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Year 12 Agricultural Science

Internal Assessment 2023
Flower Arrangement at Sigatoka
Methodist College

Student Name: (Full Name – Surname First)

Year: 12………
Supervisor: Mr. Ravinesh C Raj

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Declaration of Originality

I, ……………………….. of Year 12…….. hereby do solemnly and sincerely declare that this
project write-up on Flower Arrangement is my own and original piece of work.

However, materials used from other external sources have been duly acknowledged and
mentioned in the Reference Section.

………………………. ………………..
Name Date

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Acknowledgement

I like to express my sincere gratitude to the following people who have contributed towards the
completion of this project to be a successful one:

Firstly, I would like to thank the Almighty God for showering me with wisdom, knowledge and
strength that enable me to complete this project.

Secondly, I wish to thank my parents Mr and Mrs …………………. for supporting and helping
me financially in the completion of this project.

I would also like to thank my Agriculture teacher, Mr R. C. Raj for his assistance throughout the
entire project.

Last and not the least, I thank my friends and colleagues for sharing their knowledge on how to
complete this project.

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Table of Contents

Contents Page Number

Declaration of Originality 2
Acknowledgement 3
Methodology 6
Aim 7
Introduction 8
Literature Review 9
Importance of Flower Arrangement 11
Materials Needed for Flower Arrangement and their Sources 12
Preparation of Collected Materials 12
Organization of Collected Materials 13
Utilization of the Materials 14
Color Combination 15
Design/Arrangement 16
Use of Floral Design 17
Sources of Error 18
Results 19
Discussion 20
Conclusion 21
Recommendation 22
Reference 23
Appendix 24

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Table of Figures

Contents Page Number

Figure 1: Materials needed for the floral arrangement. 12
Figure 2: Floral foam (oasis) being soaked in a bucket of water. 13
Figure 3: Cut flowers being placed in a bucket of water to avoid dehydration. 14
Figure 4: Palm leaves being cut which would give green to the arrangement. 15
Figure 5: The start of the equilateral triangle design. 16
Figure 6: Floral arrangement placed beside the cake during staff morning tea. 17
Figure 7: The equilateral triangle design of the floral arrangement. 19

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Methodology

The following methods were used in obtaining data and information for the successful
completion of this project.

Firstly, primary research was involved. There was observation done in our class whereby we
watched videos on flower arrangement to gain some information and know how on the topic.

After that, secondary research was conducted. Internet was accessed to retrieve information
pertaining to the research topic.

Finally, the method of flower arrangement was decided, the materials to be used were collected
and flower arrangement was done in class.

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Aim

The aim of this task is to:

1. discuss the importance of flower arrangements
2. collect cut flowers or artificial flowers and materials for flower arrangements
3. identify a place at home or in school to display the arranged flowers
4. arrange flowers according to the preferred design or arrangement
5. prepare and present a project paper [report] on the task.

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Introduction

Floral arrangement is the art of selecting and organizing flowers and foliage according to the
elements and principles of design in order to attain a pleasing and interesting design. Arranging
flowers is an artistic activity and a way to express oneself creatively; county fairs offer the
flower arranger an opportunity to participate in this art form.

The artistic nature of flower arrangement means that no strict rules need to be followed by
designers, but there are three very distinct styles into which arrangements can be categorized.
Enhancing the beauty of flowers with artistic arrangement is the art of flower arrangements.
Flower arrangements are an important part of the ambience on any occasion weddings, birthdays,
parties, or any other events in life. Flower arrangement is an organization of design and color
towards creating an ambience using flowers, foliage and other floral accessories.

Flower arrangement is not an art to be reserved only for special occasions. A few flowers on the
kitchen table can be as important in their own way as a full scale decoration for a big occasion.
Flower arrangements beautify homes and offices alike and are also used as centerpieces for a
table. Flower arrangements are made out of fresh cut flowers, dried flowers and artificial flowers
as well.

Roses are the most popular flowers used in floral arrangements, closely followed by carnations,
gerbera daisies and chrysanthemums. The use of flowers in flower arrangements also depends on
the occasion for which they are made and the recipient’s likes and dislikes. The Chinese were the
first to put water in a container of cut flowers. So, while the Chinese were arranging flowers
aesthetically in a container the rest of the world was braiding garlands, making wreaths and
flinging petals.

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Literature Review

Knowledge of the floral arts of earlier cultures and civilizations is important so that the flower
designer might better understand the derivation of the flower arrangement styles used today.
Floral artists of the various periods of continental European art history used lavish quantities of
flower types and colours to create a massive display. There is evidence for use of the flowers for
decorative purpose during early Egyptian Period, Roman Period, the Byzantine Period,
throughout the Middle Ages, the Baroque Period as well as during the Victorian period as
described by Berrall (1997) and Hannay Frances (1948). The Italian artist Michelangelo greatly
influenced the artistic transition from the classical Renaissance style to the lavish mood of the
Baroque period.

These arrangements were often created as symmetrical, oval-shaped designs early in the Baroque
period, but asymmetrical curves in the shape of an ‘S’ or a crescent were later adopted. The
period of French art history during the short reign of Louis XVI (1774-1793) showed a continued
movement to feminity in design styles. This was the result of the queen’s direction in setting
court styles. Flower arrangements of the Empire era were more compact than those of earlier
French periods, with simple lines in a triangular shape and strong color contrasts. A typical
Empire design would be arranged in heavy urn containing an abundance of large, richly colored
flowers (Griner, 2011).

The floral art of the American Federal period (1780-1820) took its styles from the Neoclassic
and Empire designs that evolved in Europe at that time (Hannay, 1948). The American people
wanted to break away from the traditions of England and desired to create their own national art
styles. These floral designs were influenced most by the delicate French style, with the individual
beauty of the flowers being stressed. In these designs, the height of the flowers was greater than
the width of the arrangement. The sleek floral designs gradually gave way to the ornate and
stuffy designs characteristic of the Victorian period.

The Oriental style, i.e. Ikebana originated in India, emphasized and modified in China and
further developed as an art form in Japan. It came to Japan with Buddhism from India via China,
around 600 A.D. Formal offering of flowers on the Buddhist altar combined with the aristocratic

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taste for floral decoration and fused into a refined form, which evolved into ikebana. It is a
disciplined art form, steeped in the philosophy of developing closeness with nature. From the late
Kamakura period to the Muromachi period (late 13th-15th century), large contests of flower
arrangement were held in the court on the day of Tanabat a. History says that it was at the
tanabata-hanaawase (a floral competition held at Star Festival) that flowers first became the
theme of an annual event. The festival dates from the time of Yoshmitsu Ashikaga (13581408),
who loved flowers and had numerous flowers planted in his garden.

Flower arrangement is the artistic display of flowers in a right manner and proportion so that the
same may provide maximum pleasure and satisfaction, and create a quite peaceful, pleasant and
congenial atmosphere at the place. It is an art of designing and arranging flowers aesthetically in
a vase or bowl retaining their freshness for a longer time. It is organization of design, form and
colors towards creating an ambience using flowers, foliage and other floral accessories. It is a
throbbing and live creative art that invokes aesthetic faculties of the mind. Flower arrangement
endows with a magic touch to the cut flowers and grants value addition to more than 50% to the
cut flowers (Singh and Dhaduk, 2011).

In floral design, the container is a foundation or base of the floral composition. A properly
selected container should be functional and in harmony and unity with the arrangement
(Aaronson Marion, 1983). Properties of container in flower arranging have been well defined by
Blacklock (2006). The container must be capable and deep enough for holding an adequate
volume of water and to support the weight of the flowers. In case the container is unable to hold
water, another container, which can hold water, can be placed inside. Glass, metal, plastic,
porcelain or glazed pottery container all have unique effect on flower designs. Metallic finishes
require protection from the tarnishing that accompanies the use of floral preservatives in the
container water. The shape and size of a container often suggests the type of design to be created
within it. A large, heavy container requires a taller arrangement to balance the mass of the
container.

Importance of Flower Arrangement

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Flowers are more than just decoration. They can breathe new life into a room and positively
affect your state of mind. Some of the few reasons why flower arrangements are so important for
every occasion are as follows:

Mood boosters: Flowers come in a wide variety of colors, smells, and styles. Placing flowers in
your home or in your workplace is extremely beneficial when it comes to improving moods. A
good floral arrangement can keep you in a happy state of mind throughout the day.

Transform a space: Floral arrangements can transform a dull room into an invigorating space.
Pay attention to colors when creating an arrangement. For instance, colors like orange and red
have been proven to boost energy, while shades of blue and green provide a serene feeling.

An expression of creativity: Arranging flowers is an expression of creativity and a highly valued

art form. It can be a part-time hobby or full-time profession, depending on how you want to use
your skills. In the past, it was turned into a meditative practice by the Japanese who adopted the
art of arranging flowers from China.

Flowers are one of nature's many gifts. With their assorted hues, varied shapes and sizes, and
pleasing scents, they have the power to express what words sometimes cannot, and to improve
any environment in which they are placed. The expressive and environment-enhancing powers of
flowers are enhanced when they are arranged together in artful displays. Flower arrangements
play an important role in commemorating life's most significant moments, and in making homes
and workplaces more pleasant.

Materials Needed for Flower Arrangement and their Sources

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Materials Source
Flowers of choice Compound
Floral foam (oasis) Teacher
Scissors Personal
Water Tank
Bleach (Janola) Personal
Tape Personal

Preparation of Collected Materials

1. A pair of scissors was needed to trim the stems. A vase was chosen in which to display the
flowers. In our case the vase was floral foam (oasis).

2. Water was also used to wet the floral foam and to keep the cut flowers alive.

3. Plant food was not used due to its unavailability.

4. There were various flowers of choice needed including greenery, primary flowers and
secondary flowers for the arrangement.

Figure 1: Materials needed for the floral arrangement.

Organization of Collected Materials

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1. Before beginning with the arrangement, all the materials needed were gathered so that
everything was readily available when the arrangement started.

2. There was a need for floral foam (oasis), scissors, floral tape and an empty bucket.

3. The floral foam was soaked in water well before the arrangement was started.

4. A pair of scissors was used to clear those stems which had thorns on them.

Figure 2: Floral foam (oasis) being soaked in a bucket of water.

Utilization of the Materials

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Although the tools and elements you need to create floral designs vary greatly depending on the
project, a floral designer’s workbench is usually home to the following basic kit:

1. Stainless steel floral scissors that allow you to cut under water.
2. Curved or straight floral knife to cut stems.
3. Wire-cutters to cut the wires holding or bunching your flowers.
4. Pruning shears designed to cut thick stems or any other materials that other scissors can’t.
5. A selection of bases, such as vases or bowls.
6. Chicken wire that can be found at any hardware store, and is generally used to hold your
flowers.
7. Oasis floral foam that is great for sticking the stems into when you’re composing table centers,
for example.

Some of the above mentioned materials were used for the floral arrangement. Other materials
that were unavailable were improvised with whatever was available with the group, for as long
as to ensure that the arrangement was accomplished.

Figure 3: Cut flowers being placed in a bucket of water to avoid dehydration.

Color Combination

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Whether going for a peaceful or romantic mood, choosing the right blooms can make all the
difference. It is very important to try sticking to a color scheme when cutting flowers from the
garden.

Colors have different effects on the viewer. Appropriate use of color is important in floral
design. Reds, oranges and yellows are generally bright and stimulating and are considered warm
colors. Warm colors tend to be advancing colors (to the eye) and have more visual weight than
cool colors. Blues, greens and violets are usually tranquil, peaceful and restful and are
considered cool colors. Cool colors tend to be receding and have less visual weight than warm
colors.

When creating a floral arrangement, it is important to make sure that flower colors harmonize
with one another, with the container and with the background (for example, a tablecloth) against
which the arrangement will be displayed.

Figure 4: Palm leaves being cut which would give green to the arrangement.
Design/Arrangement

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Flowers can be a great addition to any living space. The best place to display a floral
arrangement is in a cool place, out of direct sunlight. A well-kept vase of flowers will typically
last anywhere from 5-7 days.

During the process of creating arrangements for a special event, such as a wedding or party,
starting should be done no more than one or two days prior. Finished arrangements should be
stored in a cool, dark space. But, they should not be placed in a refrigerator that has been used
for food storage because it can cause the flowers to decompose faster.

To keep the flower arrangement looking its best, the water should be changed and trim the stems
every couple of days. To change the water on more elaborate displays, that are hard to remove
from the vase, simply place it under the tap and allow the water to run out. For flowers that drink
from their blooms, like hydrangeas, mist the blooms with a spray bottle every couple of days.

If your flower arrangement is starting to wilt, don’t throw out the whole thing! Simply remove
the wilted buds from the arrangement and rearrange as needed or take out the surviving blooms
and display them in individual bud vases for a simplistic and elegant look.

Figure 5: The start of the equilateral triangle design.

Use of Floral Design

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The art of floral design plays an important role in our society. It is an important part of social
interactions and interior design. It is important in relationships and for enhancing the overall
quality of our lives. Working with flowers is fun but also brings a dimension to our life that is
purely pleasing. In our case, the equilateral triangle design was used.

It is very important to find the deeper colors and hidden rooms of our souls. One of the reasons
why anyone would fall in love with floral design is that it creates space for just that kind of work.
It is kinesthetic, engaging your body with your mind and your senses. And because it is creative,
it reveals preferences and beliefs you hold subconsciously and puts them on display in the piece
you design.

In our case, the flower arrangement was used during the staff morning tea in school. The
arrangement was placed on the table beside the cake prepared to congratulate the school
principal for being elected as the President of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union.

According to studies, flowers have an immediate impact on happiness; have a long-term positive
effect on moods and allow people to make more intimate connections. A good flower
arrangement will definitely do the trick during any important occasion.

Figure 6: Floral arrangement placed beside the cake during staff morning tea.

Sources of Error

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The art of flower arranging can be tricky; just figuring out where to begin can leave the head
spinning. Some of the possible sources of error that may have occurred during the process of
flower arrangement are as follows:

1. Too many different kinds of flowers may have been used since there were so many beautiful
flowers and it was hard to choose just a few to work with.

2. Too many different colors may have been used which breaks the cohesiveness of the
arrangement since bright colors are preferred by everyone.

3. The stems may have been cut straight and not at an angle. This may have reduced the area
through which the stems take up water and may have also allowed for bacterial growth.

4. The leaves that fall below the water line may not have been removed and that may have
caused bacterial growth and damage to the blooms.

5. The blooms may have been arranged loosely, spoiling the interest of the arrangement.

6. The water may not have been changed regularly which may have compromised the beauty and
freshness of the arrangement.

Results

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An equilateral triangle requires that all three sides of the design be equal in length. The
triangular shape and radiating line movement for the equilateral triangle can be seen.

Figure 7: The equilateral triangle design of the floral arrangement.

Discussion

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A floral arrangement is made whenever selected flowers and foliage are placed into a container
according to a plan. Flowers casually placed in a container are attractive because of their
beautiful color and shape, but the same flowers are even more appealing when arranged in a
stylish way.

Design is the selecting and arranging of objects and deals with the form of their composition.
Good floral design is the result of a well thought-out plan, with two aims in mind – order and
beauty. Good design does not just happen; there must be a relationship between all of its
component parts – a feeling of security, naturalness, balance and simplicity.

The floral arranger must have a basic idea, a mental picture of what they wish to create, where
the arrangement will be placed, and the function it will serve. Most floral arrangements are made
for a particular purpose or place. The arrangement should be suitable for its intended use. A good
floral arrangement should be expressive of a theme or idea and of one’s own personality.

In order to arrange flowers in such a manner it is necessary to become acquainted with all the
elements of good design. The elements of design are color, light, space, line, form, pattern,
texture, and size. The principles of design are balance, dominance, contrast, rhythm, proportion,
and scale. These same elements and principles of design apply to every art form. Some attributes
of design are beauty, harmony and expression.

Conclusion

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Floral arrangement is the art of selecting and organizing flowers and foliage according to the
elements and principles of design in order to attain a pleasing and interesting design. Arranging
flowers is an artistic activity and a way to express oneself creatively; county fairs offer the
flower arranger an opportunity to participate in this art form.

Our group had the opportunity to practice flower arrangement in class after the group members
decided and brought the materials from home. The flower arrangement was carried out by the
group members with reference to flower arrangement notes provided by the subject teacher. The
group members also referred to ideas from the information collected through research. It was a
good learning experience for the members on flower arrangement.

Recommendation

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Upon the completion of this task on floral arrangement, the following recommendations can be
made for improvement in future:

1. Flower arrangement should always be done early morning immediately after harvesting the
flowers since the flowers are fresh and there is less chance of flowers wilting.

2. Flower arrangement should always be done using floral preservatives that is added to water.
This will add value to the arrangement by prolonging the blooms life span.

3. Extra foliage from the arrangement should be removed. Presence of extra foliage on the
arrangement will cause the arrangement to wilt easily and loose its value and freshness.

4. If the floral arrangement is placed in water, the water should be changed every day to prevent
the water from getting slimy. Slimy water may lead to bacterial spoilage which will spoil the
arrangement.

Reference

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Culbert J R, 1978, Flower Arranging (Circular 1154), Professor of Floriculture, College of

Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension Service,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Draper A, 1978, Creative Arts: Exploring the Art of Floral Design, Extension Institute of
Agriculture, The University of Tennessee.

Honeywell E R, 1958, Principles of Flower Arrangement, Baxter County Cooperative Extension

Service, 213 East 6th Street, Suite 111, Mountain Home, AR 72653, (870) 425-2335.

Singh A, 2019, Flower Arranging and Designing, Navsari Agricultural University, Kruger Brentt
Publishers UK. LTD Company Number 9728962

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Appendix

A Partial Fulfillment of Year 12 Agricultural Science Internal Assessment 2023