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Mar 18, 2010 6:51 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Yesterday I took a workshop on current trends and techniques in working up wedding and prom designs, held at a wholesale house in Lexington. The speaker was very informative and engaging; I don't have the info with me right now, but I'll post his info, as he does travel around the country doing these workshops.

There were some methods being recommended of late I was kinda skeptical about, mostly uses for various floral products on the market. One was the use of floral adhesive glue for corsage and boutonniere work. I've always shied away from using it, unsure that it would hold flowers well enough into the designs. To my surprise, it works amazingly well! I wore the wrist corsage I made for a while to test it out, and even gave it some good shaking, but it held together great. Also learned that flowers glued, so that a drop of glue seals the cut part of the calyx, actually last longer than wired and taped blooms. He also mentioned that adhesive made for this use is a necessity, hot glue and other glues will not hold, and are likely to shorten bloom life.

Another product I hadn't tried was called "stem lock", an aerosol can with the little straw to direct the spray where you want it (like WD40). Its made to use on bouquets where an oasis bouquet holder is used. After the bouquet is completed, you just direct a few squirts where the stems enter the foam, and by golly, that stuff really works! Nowadays most brides have a lot of pictures taken before the wedding, and the bouquet gets handled a lot before the ceremony- I've had to replace flowers in large, cascading designs a couple of times, so I'll definitely keep some of that stuff on hand from now on!

Speaking of cascading bouquet designs, the speaker said they are making a comeback, after about 10 years of hand tied bouquets being the most popular. This makes a lot of floral designers happy to see the design element back in style in wedding work.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
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Mar 18, 2010 7:09 PM CST
Name: Candee Gaye
Western Maryland
Been there, done that!
Charter ATP Member Gardens in Buckets Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Vegetable Grower Tropicals Garden Ideas: Level 1
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Great wealth of information you have shared. I will have to look for stem lock, never heard of it around here - think it might be good for other uses. I would love to see a demo of the floral adhesive glue, what makes it better than a glue gun? Is there no heat involved?
I'd love to see some of our corsages and bouquets if you have a chance to share any photos please do.
As for the cascading bouquet designs, isn't it true that everything goes full circle and what was once in style, then out often returns with a vengence of beauty in this case! I love the cascades!
“If you feel you’re being picked on, you should talk to the flowers in my garden!” ~ cgl
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Mar 19, 2010 5:32 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Heat is the main factor that makes a glue gun a poor choice for fresh blooms, even the low temp glue guns are hot enough to destroy cells the glue makes contact with, the resulting shrinkage keeps it from holding tight. The adhesive doesn't use heat, its similar to rubber cement, but dries much faster.

Any full service florist could order either product for you. They would most likely have to order it especially for you, if they use the product, they probably just have what they use from available, and most likely a larger container than you would want for home use. Good craft stores may carry them too, I have seen some specialty florist brands of products at Michael's. I'd bet they're available on line as well, and probably considerably cheaper- I've found floral wholesalers prices are close to craft store retail prices, by the time the florist marks them up they can be pretty pricey.

I think the stem lock would be great for designs that require a small block of oasis or with long or tall stems that need extra stability.

So true, everything cycles where fashion is concerned. That's true even with garden plants- things that were readily available 10 years ago are often hard to find currently, then you see them show up again in catalogs as "New!".

Will get some pics posted soon Smiling
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
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Jun 5, 2010 6:06 PM CST
Name: Kimberley
Central Ohio (Zone 5b)
Oasis glue rocks! My boss uses that on corsages and to dot on ribbon to hold it up at the top of cylindrical vases when encircle and tie one on the vase. I'll have to tell her about that other product you mentioned.

We went to a fun open house at a wholesaler in March and the speaker talked bouquets, too. Was it Marvin someone, or Marlin? I can't think of his name right now. He's balding, has a goatee...Kind of reminds me of Christopher Lowell.
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Jun 5, 2010 6:28 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Kimberly, did he have white hair? What wholesaler was it? Those names kinda ring a bell.

I just finished a wedding and used the oasis glue for the corsages and for securing little hydrangea blooms around the flower girl's halo of Million stars. It worked great. I also used it for my great niece's prom corsage a few weeks ago, and she had no trouble with anything loosening. Good idea using it on vases!
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Avatar for Derln_5
Nov 15, 2016 4:15 AM CST

Last Sunday I was in market for my friend’s wedding shopping and suddenly saw fantastic wedding flowers. Was so pleased to see them. I will attend wedding of my friend next week. Thinking of presenting flowers bouquets to couple with a nice gift. Will place an order to flower delivery near me service, that provides same day services.
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Aug 16, 2017 2:06 PM CST
Name: Susan B
East Tennessee (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member
In a floral design class I once took, we made pocket boutonnieres with 3x5 cards, and glue. On the short end of the card, you put your Oasis glue (or whichever brand), then add small pieces of fern and small flowers- statice works very well. You can even do tiny rosebuds across. After it is dry, you just slide it into a jacket breast pocket, ta da! no pins or fuss.
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Aug 16, 2017 2:22 PM CST
Name: Susan B
East Tennessee (Zone 6b)
Charter ATP Member
I remember the flowers on the cards being quite small, but this is the only photo I found...
Thumb of 2017-08-16/lakesidecallas/5cb217


Thumb of 2017-08-16/lakesidecallas/6f620e
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Aug 21, 2017 7:49 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Neal Linville
Winchester, KY (Zone 6a)
Bulbs Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Irises Roses
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
Susan, I love that idea! It's a different look too, a pleasant change from the usual bout.
"...and don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous." Rumi
Avatar for tiadoskocil
Aug 23, 2017 8:03 AM CST
Name: Tia Doskocil
Texas
Awesome
Information. Looking forward to trying it. Thanks for sharing!
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