Greg Fleming escapes the demands of his career in the hospitality industry by creating unique and stunning flower arrangements. What makes them unique is Greg's ability to find and arrange unusual artificial and dried plant materials, creating displays that seem to both defy nature while accurately duplicating it. "To bring interest and a greater sense of reality, I introduce unexpected elements such as moss covered branches and dried mushroom caps," explains Greg. "The secret is to picture the way the arrangement would look in nature." And that he does, transforming plants of plastic and silk into lifelike arrangements. Greg begins with the container, explaining, "the container is the stage for the entire arrangement." His search for unique pots and vases takes him to flea markets, antique shops and yard sales. Greg finds that container can inspire him and help guide the creation of an arrangement. "A great container and plenty of floral foam is a good start. There's no right or wrong way, just be creative," Greg advises. "Have fun with it, play around with it. The best part of working with floral foam is that you can move the stems around, so if you don't like the way a stem looks you can just move it." And, don't forget to view the arrangement from all sides. The best looking displays don't have a front or a back. While Greg searches far and wide for unique and beautiful artificial flowers, you can find them as close as any crafts store. The process of making them seem real is in the manipulation of the plants. Greg suggests bending the plants and their leafs, and cutting off branches to more accurately reflect how plants appear in nature. Structure the plants so they intertwine, or appear to be attracted to a light source. Greg recommends that anyone who wants to create an arrangement first "go visit a florist or a garden center and see how live plants grow, then go home and duplicate it." Once you created your first arrangement, you'll want to keep it in good condition by watering it. Actually, misting it with water will blow the dust off the arrangement and keep it looking fresh. "Just start out simple," says Greg, "have fun with it, and before you know it, you'll be a master."
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