A Bowl of Celery and Roses

INGREDIENTS

• Cold water
• Flower freshener or bleach
• Large Salad bowl
• 2 Bunches (20 stalks) of celery
• 20 Toscana roses

RECIPE
1. Pour cold water and flower freshener into a large salad bowl
2. Seperate and clean the celery stalks.
3. Cut off the short, leafy celery stalks and save them.
4. Place long stems of celery in a crisscross grid in the bowl, keeping holes open in the celery grid.
5. Place the leafy celery tips throughout the center of the bowl in between the larger stalks.
6. Continue to add celery until the bowl is full of green celery tips.
7. Cut the roses short
8. Gently force the petals to open.
6. Position the roses securely between celery leaves and stems. Order Chinese take out and invite your friends to eat.

Note: Most florists can't live without Oasis. A water-absorbing Styrofoam brick, it is used to hold flowers in place while also allowing them to drink. I find Oasis both a miracle and a curse. It is ideal when using a shallow vessel for a big arrangement, but for smaller pieces it can make arrangements much too stiff. I prefer making a grid with floral tape to hold the flowers loosely in place.

This is one of many "how to" recipes in Rebecca's most recent book FLOWER POWER.