Layered Orchid Arrangement

The layered look is in, and this lovely arrangement wears it beautifully. Incorporating layers of sand, rock, yucca pods, aralia berries and reindeer moss, this everlasting silk orchid arrangement is deceptively simple and undeniably attractive.

What you’ll need:

• 7” glass cylindrical vase
• 1 block florist foam for silk flowers
• Dried sticky florist clay 
• Sand
• 1 bag polished garden rock (gravel size)
• 1½  bags multicolor polished river rock
• 1 bag dried yucca pods
• 2 stems aralia berries
• 1 bag spring green reindeer moss
• 1 silk phalaenopsis orchid plant
• 2 silk phalaenopsis orchid sprays
• 1 stem curly willow
• 1 kitchen knife
• Small craft paint brush
• Wire cutters

Instructions

1. Start with a clean glass cylindrical vase. Use a kitchen knife to trim foam down to fit inside of container leaving plenty of room all the way around it.
2. Tear off about 3” of sticky florist clay, form it into a circle and place it in bottom of cylinder.
3. Push foam firmly into clay. (Once set, do not move foam or it will break loose and you will have to put new clay down.)
4. Start your layers, beginning with the smallest items. Layer in this order: Sand, gravel size garden rock, yucca pod pieces, aralia berries, reindeer moss, and finally river rock. (Use your craft brush to tidy up the top edge of each layer as you go.)
5. Place your everlasting orchid plant in the foam.
6. Use wire cutters to trim orchid stems, curly willow, and a few pieces of aralia berries to the proper length, and add to the arrangement.
7. Cover the foam and stems with more moss, and sit back and admire your creation—and its many layers!