Embrace

For the base of this arrangement, pieces of pulp cane were glued parallel to each other on a cardboard circle with wood glue. A bowl of Oasis Bio floral foam was placed in the center and attached to the circle. The space where the urn will be placed was marked out, then around the urn the flowers were placed at different heights and in different groups, like an embrace. Flowers and green materials used: Dahlia, Rosa, Daucus, Sandersonia, Ornithogalum, Oenothera (primrose), Centaurea (cornflower) and Asparagus plumosus.

Floral wave

The base of the waveform was formed from aluminum wire and Oasis Rustic Wire. Then the water tubes were wrapped with bindwire from Oasis and attached in the wavy base. In the water tubes, white callas (Zantedeschia) are arranged in the flowing lines of the arrangement. Tillandsia plants and Asparagus plumosus help provide a natural base.

Pure nature

On a bowl covered with Oasis Bio floral foam, a green base was first laid by completely covering the floral foam with green lichen and the stems of gypsophilia. Next, the flowers were placed. These all face the sky, but were incorporated at different heights to provide depth.

Flowers used: Paeonia, Chrysanthemum, Oenothera (primrose), Senecio, Robinia, Buddleja and Daucus.

"Roaming the garden together in search of materials."

Freelance florist and teacher Linda Eising likes to stay close to the personal wishes of the customer with her farewell flower arrangements. 'It is my challenge and strength to translate those wishes into flower arrangements. Gathering information from the bereaved by visiting, listening, asking the right questions and looking around, gives me the good information to get started.'

'Buying materials or even better applying the plants from home or garden. Searching together in one's own garden for the most beautiful materials. It is often precisely those materials that were lovingly cared for and admired by the deceased.'

'When searching for materials together with the bereaved, the most beautiful stories and fond memories surface. That often works immediately as a piece of mourning. When you then make an arrangement from all these materials, you see the tears of emotion and recognition in the eyes of the relatives upon delivery. That gives me great satisfaction. 

'Creativity gives meaning to loss'

Belgian floral designer Sören van Laer finds making funeral arrangements a very important part of his work as a floral designer. 'Flowers not only bring comfort, they also express appreciation for the deceased. It is therefore very important to make very personal and creative funeral arrangements because creativity gives meaning to loss.'

'I signal an increase in demand for urn decorations. This requires a separate approach but also offers opportunities to create very refined funeral arrangements. For farewell flower arrangements, I prefer to use colorful flowers. Colors soften grief.'

Working with symbolism also generates many possibilities. 'For example, lavender has the properties of being soothing, calming, soothing, uplifting and balancing. The flower symbolizes balance, devotion, friendly love, admiration and beauty. Lavender has a subtle color and fragrance and in this way connects body, mind and spirit, making it an exquisite flower for farewell flower arrangements.'

Spiritual

By using natural cherry branches with leaves in combination with the almost luminous white Phalaenopsis and Zantedeschia, this arrangement has a certain spiritual aura. In Oasis Bio floral foam on a plastic tray, first the Prunus branches, Asparagus plumosus, Rudbeckia, Ornithogalum and Daucus were inserted. Then the callas and butterfly orchids are centrally arranged. Tillandsia plants make a nice finishing touch.