PER BENJAMIN (Sweden) Winner of many awards including the Scandinavian Gold Medal in 2000 and winner of the Interflora World Cup in Amersterdam in 2002.

Per's first design used carnations and the heads were wired in a criss cross fashion so as to form a well supported circle of flowers. Chrysantheums, anthuriums and a fluffy filler were then spiralled into a bouquet. Reeds were pinned on top with lime slices spiked into the flower heads with pearl headed pins. Ths design can be made into any shape ie square, oblong or most popularly, a heart which would make a wonderful Valentine presentation.

The second design was also made with carnations, very big in Europe at that time. They now come in such amazing colours and last for so long they deserve more admiration. Once again, the head were all wired forming a grid and the stems are inserted into a container. Additional flowers such as Nerines, roses, Alstromeria, Misty and something fluffy are also inserted. Reeds are fed through the grid between the flowers and hypericum berries were pushed onto the extended wires so as not to cause damage. The naughty boy of the class, Bryan Swan from Boston, cut his stems off and made a spring hat!