Embrace

For the base of this arrangement, pieces of reed pith are glued parallel to each other with wood glue onto a cardboard circle. In the center, a bowl with Oasis Bio floral foam is placed and attached to the circle. The space where the urn will be placed is marked, after which the flowers are arranged around the urn at different heights and in different groups, as an embrace. Flowers and greenery used: Dahlia, Rosa, Daucus, Sandersonia, Ornithogalum, Oenothera (evening primrose), Centaurea (cornflower), and Asparagus plumosus.

Floral wave

The base of the waveform is formed from aluminum wire and Oasis Rustic Wire. Then, the water tubes are wrapped with Oasis bindwire and attached to the undulating surface. White calla lilies (Zantedeschia) are arranged in the water tubes in the flowing lines of the arrangement. Tillandsia plants and Asparagus plumosus also provide a natural base.

Pure nature

On a dish covered with Oasis Bio floral foam, a green base is first laid by completely covering the floral foam with green lichen and the stems of gypsophila. Subsequently, the flowers are placed. These are all directed towards the sky, but are processed at different heights to ensure a depth effect.

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

"Roaming the garden together in search of materials."

Freelance florist and teacher Linda Eising prefers to keep her farewell floral arrangements close to the personal wishes of the customer. ‘It is my challenge and strength to translate those wishes into floral work. Gathering information from the bereaved by visiting, listening, asking the right questions and looking around gives me the right information to get started.’

‘Purchasing materials or, even better, using plants from home or the garden. Strolling together in your own garden for the most beautiful materials. It is often precisely those materials that have been lovingly cared for and admired by the deceased.’

‘When searching for materials together with the bereaved, the most beautiful stories and precious memories emerge. This often immediately serves as a piece of bereavement processing. When you then make an arrangement from all those materials, you see tears of emotion and recognition in the eyes of the relatives when delivering it. That gives me a lot of satisfaction. 

'Creativity gives meaning to loss'

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

‘I am noticing that the demand for urn decorations is increasing. This requires a separate approach but also offers opportunities to create very refined funeral work. For farewell flower arrangements, I prefer to use colorful flowers. Colors soften the grief.’

Working with symbolism also generates many possibilities. 'For example, lavender has the properties of being soothing, calming, softening, uplifting, and balancing. The flower symbolizes balance, dedication, friendly love, admiration, and beauty. Lavender has a subtle color and scent and thus connects body, mind, and soul, making it an excellent flower for farewell floral arrangements.'

Spiritual

Through the use of natural cherry branches with leaves in combination with the almost luminous white Phalaenopsis and Zantedeschia, this arrangement has a certain spiritual appearance. In Oasis Bio floral foam on a plastic dish, the Prunus branches, Asparagus plumosus, Rudbeckia, Ornithogalum and Daucus are inserted first. Then the callas and moth orchids are arranged centrally. Tillandsia plants provide a beautiful finish.