Summer is a great time to find colorful flowers to create cheerful arrangements for your home.  Take advantage of this flowering season by choosing flowers in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, such as the ones listed below:

• Teddy Bear Sunflowers – a small version of the original sunflower.  It grows to 3 feet in height.

• Dahlias – a cheery plant of the daisy family that has full blooms that can reach 10 inches in diameter.

• Scented Geranium Leaves – this plant has sculpted leaves that are available in many scents from ginger to chocolate.

• Zinnias – available in a variety of colors and sizes and has a hearty bloom.
• Spray Roses – a miniature version of the rose that comes in lots of colors and scents.

• Perennial Salvia – a purple sprig that adds a spiky contrast to the full blooms of the other plants.

Decide on the container you want to use for your flower arrangement and fill it with water.  A short bowl-like container will result in a fuller arrangement while a tall vase will result in a thinner arrangement.  Garden flowers usually have thick and leafy stems which can make the water murky or cloudy.  For this reason, it is best to use an opaque container such as a ceramic bowl or vase.

To design the bouquet, start by grouping the medium and large flowers (Dahlias, Teddy Bear Sunflowers, and Zinnias) in your hand until you have the desired look.  Stand the arrangement next to the container to gauge the proper height.  Cut the stems at an angle to help the flowers stay hydrated.  Once you place the medium and large flowers in your container, tuck in the smaller flowers (Perennial Salvia and the Scented Geraniums) around the medium and large flowers.  You should now have a beautiful flower arrangement for your home!

Teddy Bear Sunflower	Dahlias	Scented Geranium Leaves
Zinnias	Spray Roses	Perennial Salvia

About the Author:

Lesley Dietschy is a writer, jewelry designer, beauty editor and the founder of  http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com. Visit the Home Decor Exchange to find valuable information and resources to assist you in decorating your home and garden. 

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