Home decor: Fabulous floral arrangements

What would warm weather be without flowers? Roses, tulips, anemones – these cheery reminders of spring and summer brighten up even the dullest day and you home decor. Not such a green thumb? That's ok! We're not all gardeners, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy flowers galore in our homes. Mild weather means these blooming beauties are in abundance, so a trip or a phone call to your favourite florist means you can bring these pretty flowers home, today. No garden required!

The owner of Toronto-based Nice Stems Floral Design (nicestems.ca), Margarite Raposo shares some fascinating flowers facts and tips for floral arrangements that are beautiful for spring.

Spring flower facts
Fact 1: Because cut peonies are in season for such an unpredictable, short period (around two weeks), no good florist will guarantee them for an event planned ahead of time, like a wedding, Margarite says. So, if you see cut peonies and you love them -- buy them! They'll be gone in a few weeks' time.

Fact 2: Tulips are the only flowers that continue to grow after they are cut.

Fact 3: One of the only true blue flowers readily available is anemones. Most of the "blue" flowers you see are coloured with food dye in their water.

New floral trend:
Square, ceramic vases. You'll be seeing a movement away from the traditional glass vases where you can see stems, toward opaque white ceramics. "It gives arrangements a cleaner look," Margarite says.

Beautiful ideas for arrangements


1 Anemones and parrot tulips
Blue and purple anemones and fluttery two-tone burgundy parrot tulips make for a striking bouquet in saturated colours. A flourish of gauzy ribbon grounds the look. Anemones are one of the hottest flowers this spring, available in red, white, blue, purple and pink.

Photography courtesy of Nice Stems.