Features: Flower arranging

Dennis van Wonderen introduces us to the ‘pot-et-fleur’, a form of arrangement that he says is a blast from the past. The name refers to a versatile combination of whole green plants and cut flowers in the same container and can be placed outside or in the house. The plants used are traditionally scented herbs, which Dennis says are very much in demand these days, particularly by brides, who like them included in bouquets and table decorations.

Take-home ideas

Although the herbs are permanent you can ring the changes by selecting a completely different colour scheme with your flowers. At Christmas or on special occasions include gold and silver decorations or tall candles and holly.

If you’d rather not use floral foam, replace it with a glass test tube filled with water and pushed into the compost.

Be very careful not to overwater the arrangement because there are no drainage holes in the container and the plants won’t survive if they become waterlogged. Just keep the floral foam damp for the cut flowers.

Dennis used Mikado sticks, bent into circles and tied with coloured reel wire to decorate his arrangement.

Ingredients:

• Decorative bowl – at least four inches deep

• Waterproof liner such as an empty food tub or pot cover that will fit within the glass vase

• A few small pebbles, possibly a few handfuls of compost

• Floral foam or test tube

• Several herb plants in small 10cm pots, oregano, chives, parsley or rosemary work well.

• Several stems of cut flowers – we used alliums, nerines and pink rosebuds.

• Mikado sticks and coloured wire or your own choice of decoration.

Step-by-step:

1. Line the bowl with plastic to prevent leaks. Put in a few pebbles to help drainage.

2. Gently squeeze the plant pots and lift the plants out, loosening the compost and teasing the roots a little as you do it.

3. Arrange the plants in the container leaving a hole in the centre for the floral foam.

4. Insert the oasis and arrange the flowers accordingly, pushing them well down into it.

5. Accessorise and finish the container with props of your choice.

6. Water gently until the floral foam is saturated.