Well, this issue had a tiny article (one page!) about flower arranging called "rules of arrangement" I was so enchanted, I bought a bunch of flowers at the farmers market during my weekly promenade. Buying fresh flowers at the farmers market along with organic heirloom carrots may have been one of the most elegant things I did all week. I brought them home, started cutting the stems, then diligently set up my tape grid like Martha suggested.
Flower arrangement is a lot harder than it looks. As a matter of fact, this might as well be flower arranging amateur hour. I had problems with volume, symmetry, and color. My sunflower was just pointing the wrong way, damn it.
I can tell there are a lot more tools I am going to need. Frogs, pruning shears, floral foam, and certainly owning more than one vase will help. I was plagued with the idea that my vase was just wrong. It wasn't meant for this.
The flowers really brighten up the room. It was only 6 dollars for this bunch at the poway farmers market. That is affordable but certainly not nothing. I think if these flowers last a measly two weeks, this is a sustainable enough hobby to pursue. If not, I think I'll wait until I am much more established in life before attempting for this amount of pleasantry.
Alex suggested that after they grow old, we should dry them using the dehydrator and use them for potpourri. O_O.
Martha has more tips and tricks for flower arranging on her website here.
I think you might be able to download the PDF for this magazine issue here.