Question
QUESTION: Hi-Can Sarah Bernhardt Peonies support the weight of their blooms when cut and placed in vases? I plan to DIY the centerpieces/table flowers for my wedding in May 2010. I am ordering 200 wholesale peonies (both light and dark pink--I don't know what varietal the dark pink peony will be), and my current vision is to keep the design simple. I want to have slightly staggered rows of plain, cylindrical 7.5" glass bud vases containing single peonies running down the centers of long tables. I'd like to vary the height of each one by cutting the flowers different lengths (a couple of inches up and down). Will this work, or will I have to support the weight of each bloom on the top of vase, and if so, in your designer experience, would that look dumb--kind of like a lollipop? I'd prefer to think it's going to look simple and modern. Thank you for your help!

ANSWER: Excellent question!  First of all, I believe the simple design in staggered heights would be gorgeous and not at all lollipop looking.

You are right in your assumption, though, that the bloom may be too heavy for the container and topple it.

Here's what I would do...

Find yourself some tiny clear glass pebbles or other weight ballast.  Put your flower in the vase, add the weight (after the flower is in so you don't have to try to poke through the pebbles or sand or whatever you use) and then add the water.

This will keep your original, classic and clean aesthetic while also ensuring that the vases wont fall with the slightest provocation.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Gina--that's actually something I had not considered, and a very good point.  But my real question I was trying to ask was would the flower itself droop, as in bend the stem itself, so instead of a straight stem with a nice big flower on top, I'd end up with a bent over stem, drooping with the flower facing down and drooped over the the vase, perhaps even snapping off of the stem completely?

Thanks for your help, I appreciate your quick feedback!

Answer
Aha!  I see what you're saying....  short answer, yes, they might droop over.

You could use a floral wire support and tape the stem to provide added structure.... or ou could simply use the smaller, tighter buds and blooms with the longest stems and the fuller, heavier blooms cut shorter.

A bit of drop can actually be pretty....

Another thing you should do is condition the peonies VERY well to have the stems as turgid as possible.  When you get the flowers, make a fresh cut and put in tepid water all the way to the base of the bloom overnight or at least four hours or so.  Then make an additional cut and submerge halfway up stem in cool water until you're ready to design.

The intake of water will not only ensure the flowers last, but that the stems are as firm as possible.