A traditional English posy built using the traditional rules and methods.

Equipment: posy holder, 1/3 oasis block.

Flowers: 5 x feature flower (eg roses), transition flowers (eg. eryngiums, chrysanthemums, daisies, carnations), filler flowers (gypsophilia etc)

Foliage: A selection of smaller leaf types. Silver shades work well with this.

1) Preparing the vase: Soak the oasis and slot into the posy holder. Champhor the top edges (to create more surface) and tape down into position using a cross (the +) of florists tape. This tape will act as a guide when adding the flowers and foliage.

2) Foliage: : place a single piece of foliage in the centre of the oasis (at the +) - this will define the height and starting position. Then add foliage (slanting down to cover the oasis) around the edges like a clock: at 12 o’clock, at 6 o’clock, at 3 o’clock, at 9 o’clock. Repeat this at the corners using a different texture foliage. Keep to more or less the same lengths - you should be creating a more or less even circle with the foliage.

3) The feature flowers: first one in the centre top by the +. Again this defines the height of the arrangement. Use the next two feature flowers to start the “S” shape - slightly shorter and one to each side, but one slightly in front of the + and the other slightly behind the +. The next (and last two) feature flowers should be shorter again and continue that S-curve at each end and should be more horizontal than the others. Looking at it from the top you should be able to see the “S” curve quite clearly - see image at the top. As you add the remaining flowers / foliage you should try to keep this S-curve obvious.

4) The transition flowers: start adding these into fill the gaps, building up a triangle shaped arrangement from the highest point. The transition flowers will be shorter and smaller than the feature flowers so they don’t complete with them. Use different textures and slightly differing heights to keep it interesting. The white / silver / green combination that Trish used worked very well.

5) The filler flowers / foliage: these are there to add some texture and natural unpredictability. Without them the arrangement can look a bit too prescribed. You can use interesting foliage or flowers for this - anything that changes the texture and softens the uniform lines. Slip them in between the feature and transition flowers to give that little touch of wildness.

This is a common arrangement you will see on many florists bouquets and at first seemed quite ordinary and unexciting. Bt by adding the filler flowers / foliage at the end you give it a much more natural look which works a lot better. It is also one to experiment with more unusual flowers: eryngium, alliums, seed heads would all work well in these. And the choice of foliage colour can also add a more interesting twist: silver works well.

Mine was full of very bright colours but was not really sticking to the brief. I lost my S-curve very quickly (too many flowers) and ended up with a round rather than triangular shape (flat shaped flowers). If I did it again I will use more interesting flowers.