Common Materials for Flower Arrangements

The tropics has the richness of resources not only of the living plants, but also of indigenous materials for use in landscape designs and flower arrangements. Whether these are gathered for the actual purpose or by-products of other original uses, we have lots of them. 

Top and bottom photos are made of  reeds or tall weeds woven to look like walls or dividers, and provide clean backgrounds for some ornamentals. Above is Tillandsia usneoides, while below are indigenous ferns.

Driftwood or dried tree branches make common mounting materials for orchids, whether as attachment materials during growth of orchid plants or for landscaping designs.

Bamboos are abundant in the tropics and they make into a lot of beautiful designs, whether just cut to pieces or woven into baskets and containers. 

another style of weaving the shortly-cut bamboos of equal length provide lovely container for these 

group of profusely growing cattleya

a box on the wall can either be made of metal, wood or thick cartons. A Philodendron and some water plants provide a lovely diorama on the wall.

the above is made of wood frames and mounted on the wall, planted with cactus and succulents

used tires instead of discarding to the garbage bins can be made into containers of hanging plants

Another creative use of our bamboos, done patiently in a tedious but artistic way, is making archs like the above in entrances of major festive activities. Sometimes these are also laced with plants and flowers. The above is the entrance to the commercial booths during the Philippine Orchid Society Show 2012. Another entrance to the landscape design exhibits was posted earlier.