Floral Composition . . .

A floral composition that will "dazzle you with simplicity."

For step-by-step instructions for making this floral arrangement, see the full story.

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FLORAL JOURNEY: Bedazzling bamboo: Blooms add beauty to a magnificent plant by Sakul Intakul

In Asia, bamboo is one of the four great plants that are the pillars of civilisation - the others being rice, coconut and banana. Bamboo is also part of the staple diet throughout this part of the world. A house can be built entirely from bamboo. It can be a toy, a tool, a utensil or a container, or it can even be used in vehicles. Besides, arts and handicrafts in endless forms are inspired by and created from this magnificent plant.

In the creation of my modern flower designs, as an Asian artist, I am greatly inspired by this modest plant, which grows in abundance and in great varieties here in Thailand. I use thin bamboo strips to create simple forms, such as round and sphere shapes, to serve as the base for my exotic bloom arrangements. But sometimes irregular shapes can also be accomplished by this versatile natural material. Bamboo culms can be cut at desired lengths and used as natural containers for water and food. For today's floral arrangement, I used these natural containers.

The process of making this design is very simple and very easy to follow.

I used pink anthuriums and the culms of golden bamboo with a diameter of about 2.5cm as my floral and plant materials. A round glass container is the secondary receptacle of the composition.

Firstly, as the primary receptacle for the anthuriums, I cut the bamboo culms to a length twice that of the height of my glass container. The size of the glass container dictates the number of bamboo pieces to cut - in this case, 12. I continue to put the cut bamboo pieces into the glass container, making sure that all the pieces turn to one direction. I then add fresh water to fill the pieces of bamboo culms. The stems of the anthuriums should be cut to the proper length when they are being arranged; the total height of the floral arrangement should be 3.5 to 4 times the height of the glass container. Finally, I put one or two anthuriums into each bamboo culm - and there you have it - an arrangement that will dazzle you with the simplicity and beauty of the composition inspired by one of Asia's most modest, yet magnificent plants.

(Source: Bangkok Post, FLORAL JOURNEY, 3/31/2011))