Best buds

By Alex May

Have a house full of flowers every day without bankrupting yourself at the florist.

No need for ikebana lessons at the evening college. Try these tips instead:

• Simple and strong arrangements work best. Stick to one or two different flowers of the same colour, plnk them in a case and - hey presto - the room looks fabulous.
• Use strong and simple leaves instead of flowers - try bamboo stems, monsteria leaves or any strong leaf.
• Berries and fruit add a twist to arrangements. Or try interesting plants like rosehip.
• Don't fuss when it comes to vases - simple jars and old bottles can work just as well as expensive designer vases. Plonk a fresh bunch of flowers from the garden and plonk 'em in a jam jar hung from the wall for a different take on an old idea.
• When the gods do smile on you and you receive a huge bunch of flowers, make sure you pluck a few simple stems from the bunch to spread around each room in your house.