A picture tells more than a thousand words and flowers speak more than a million languages.


Carthamus tinctorius or commonly known as Safflower is remarkably a flower of longevity as it is highly nutritional. This flower caught my first attention when I landed at the fresh flower shop. Despite the fact that it is popular to many of us, Safflower is a pleasant flower to work with as they come in branchy consists of long stem ends with furry globular heads suitable to be used as secondary flower or fillers in floral arrangement. Handling is easy and soft bending may present lovely arch or waves in floral composition. "This is the flower that I am going to buy and try today no matter what" I told myself.

A dramatic flower of striking orange and midnight blue resembling a bird's beak and plumage, Bird of Paradise or scientifically known as Strelitzia reginae symbolizes joyfulness and heaven. Also called as Crane Flower, it is the flower of magnificence.

Cheerfulness, optimism and joy - those are the representation of chrysanthemums. It is also considered as a noble flower in Asian culture since it is used as an object of meditation as suggested by Confucius. Chrysanthemums are likely visible on the altars as well, as an offering to Goddess of Mercy, symbolizing its grace for an angel.

Everlasting Joy is a floral composition consists of the above flowers made special to unfold the secrets of every day's joy and reap an everlasting happiness and good health.

Floral Material
From top left (clockwise): Bird of Paradise, White Aster, Safflower, Yellow Chrysanthemum.

Design concept
From front view, Everlasting Joy is a shape of a leaning '2' sitting on top of a triangle. This floral design places Bird of Paradise as focal point and yellow Chrysanthemums as primary flowers. Furry orange/yellow on the globular head, Safflowers are used as secondary flower, a wonderful mix in color hue with yellow. Creatively designed wood and bark, the gorgeous flower bowl is a perfect fit for the vertical arrangement.

Getting started
1. Insert some paper into the bottom of the flower bowl to gain an appropriate height before placing the soaked oasis.

2. Compose from front view.
3. Begin with inserting the focal flower - Bird of Paradise slightly towards right facing the sky.

4. Then, place the highest point using a Safflower. It also serves as a guide for the height of this creation. Continue to insert another two Safflowers to accompany the tallest one!

5. Move on to insert Safflowers horizontally to create a shape of leaning '2'. Place a long and soft stem of Safflower to make the beautiful wave towards the left, creating a false view of Safflower protruding the oasis.
6. Continue to add Safflowers vertically on the left side and make them resembling a triangle shape.

7. Insert the curly tea leaves as foliage to cover the oasis.

8. Place the primary flower, yellow chrysanthemums in the middle of two rows symbolizes joyfulness!

9. Last but not least, insert some white asters in this lovely creation like the shining stars on the sky!

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