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Flower shops will share their techniques at Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club event

Florists from three local flower shops will share tricks and tricks

Amelia Robinson/Staff photo Holiday floral arrangements, like this one from Furst Florist, will be demonstrated at the annual Floral Fantasy.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Amelia Robinson, Staff Writer 11:42 AM Saturday, November 12, 2011

The turkey may glisten and the pie may practically glow, but nothing sets off a holiday table like an eye-catching centerpiece.

Florists from three local flower shops will share tricks and demonstrate arrangement techniques at Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club’s eighth annual Floral Fantasy. The event is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 6430 Far Hills Ave., Centerville.

Mark Brueninghaus of The Flower Shoppe, Michael Bryan of Furst Florist and Jessie Wright of Sherwood Florist will each produce six unique floral pieces. The 18 arrangements will serve as door prizes.

“They not only show what they can do, but show what you can do,” said Martha Boice, an event organizer.

Master Japanese flower arranger Louise Bennett will appear as Brueninghaus’ guest.

About 250 people are expected to attend, generating about $6,000 to support University of Dayton women in need of financial assistance through the Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club endowed scholarship fund honoring Marty Ebeling and Lois Ross.

Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

There will also be a silent auction. About 30 items, ranging from restaurant gift certificates to stationery products will be raffled.

Six raffle tickets will be given to those who donate children’s books in good condition. The books will benefit the alumnae group’s literacy program.

Decorating tips

Seasoned floral designers Brueninghaus of The Flower Shoppe and Bryan of Furst Florist have been part of Floral Fantasy since its inception.

Here are a few of their suggestions for holiday home decorating:

Think outside the vase

Bryan said pumpkins, squash and gourds can be given new life as flower containers.

For an Italian theme dinner, bread loaves can be hollowed out and filled with dried pasta and flowers.

Don’t limit yourself to traditional large centerpiece

Brueninghaus urged creativity.

“People don’t have to get the triangle-shaped centerpiece,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a ‘centerpiece centerpiece.’ ”

Don’t settle for only mums

Brueninghaus said that flower shops are able to get nearly every variety of flower shipped to the area. Peonies, hydrangeas, garden roses and orchids look great in holiday arrangements, he said.

“Cymbidium (orchids) are coming out of New Zealand by the thousands,” he said. “They come in a lot of pretty colors.”

Use what you have

The foliage, branches and cones from your yard can make nice holiday decorations, Bryan said, noting that decorating shouldn’t be limited to the dinner table.

Consider filling the larger pots on your front porch with branches full of colorful berries, fir branches and cones.

Pick the appropriate container

Brueninghaus said loose flowers can be added to containers ranging from drinking glasses to dried gourds.

Keep your colors traditional

Bryan said red and green will be popular this holiday season.

In past years, people went wild for silvers, blues and purples.

“It never seemed right to me,” Bryan said.

Economic pressures mean people are more likely to use traditional colors.

“Put your money into things you know will come back,” he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2384 or arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com.

How to go

What: Floral Fantasy