How to make a flower crown that lasts the night
Real flowers, florist's wire and a bit of stubbornness. Mine was still holding together at midnight, which is a small miracle.
I wore this one to a party and it was still holding together at midnight, which for a crown made of real flowers and stubbornness is a small miracle. Here is what I have learned after a few soggy failures.
You'll need
- Florist's wire, and floral tape to bind with
- Fresh flowers with firm heads — roses and ranunculus for the drama
- Filler: lavender, wax flower, a little eucalyptus, some seedy grass
- Secateurs, and a spray bottle of water
What to do
- Twist the wire into a circle sized to your head, then wrap it in floral tape so nothing scratches.
- Work in little bunches — three or four stems and a leafy sprig behind them — and bind each bunch tight to the base before you add the next, so each one hides the stems of the last.
- Big blooms to the front, filler fanning out the back. Keep turning it to check it from every side.
- Mist it, and rest it in the fridge until you leave.
The trick nobody tells you
Condition the flowers first. Cut the stems on the slant and give them a long overnight drink before you start, and assemble as late as you dare. A conditioned rose will forgive you an entire evening. A thirsty one wilts before the first drink.
Mine had lavender in it, so I smelled faintly of a hedge all night. No regrets.
Would you want one?
A little kit of wire, tape and dried flowers for making your own crown
Nothing’s for sale. I only make things people want, so a tap helps me decide.
