Your Complete College Graduation Flower Guide

For high school and college seniors, spring is all about one thing: graduation. Seniors are saying goodbye to their schools and universities and moving onto the next stage of their lives. But before they move on, they get to celebrate their amazing academic accomplishments! Flowers have a longstanding role in graduation ceremonies, whether they're worn by graduates as they walk across the stage or presented to them after the ceremony is over. If your loved one is graduating this spring, and you aren't sure what flowers you need for the celebratory event, take a look at this guide to graduation florals:

What Flowers Should You Use?

Flowers can be used in myriad ways to celebrate the graduate in your life, but before deciding which arrangements you want to use, you first have to decide on the flowers themselves. There are a few ways to determine this: First, if the graduate has a floral preference, say they love tulips, that's always a good choice. Or, consider using flowers in the school's colors for an extra festive touch. Finally, consider some traditional graduation blooms that never go out of style. For instance, orchids, roses and carnations are all popular choices that your graduating senior is sure to love.

Corsages and Boutonnieres 

Corsages and boutonnieres were traditionally presented to graduates to wear during their walk across the stage, and though the custom has become a little less common, it's still a fun way to celebrate the big day. These arrangements – a wrist corsage for a girl and a lapel boutonniere for a boy – are usually given by the parents of the senior before the ceremony. If you live in an coastal state and the school is OK with it, you can also consider presenting your graduate with a floral lei for the ceremony!

A Graduation Gift

Whether you can make it to your favorite senior's party or you're celebrating the event from out of town, flowers make a great graduation gift. In-person friends and family members can present a beautiful bouquet after the ceremony is over, while out-of-town loved ones can have flowers hand-delivered to the graduate's house to support him or her from afar. If you're interested in sending a gift remotely, you can even gift the graduate with a plant that will last a lot longer than a bouquet. Send Teleflora's Good Luck Bamboo to bring your senior good fortune in his or her future endeavors. Graduating high school seniors can bring a plant with them to their dorm rooms and college graduates can bring one into the office to decorate their first professional desk.

Arrangements for the Celebration

Centerpieces or other florals you can use to decorate for the graduation party are the last type of arrangement you may want to consider. Find something fun and festive and place it on a table near a guest book or large card that everyone can sign. Or, if you gave the graduate a bouquet at the end of the ceremony, have a decorative vase set up already in which you can arrange the flowers as soon as you get home – or to wherever the party is taking place. 

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How to Build a Raised Flower Bed in a Weekend

Raised flower beds have a lot of benefits. They help you control the soil a bit more than traditional gardens, and they make it a lot harder for pests or weeds to get into your crops. Plus, for those living in climates with a lot of moisture, raised beds can drain water a lot better than ground-level gardens. They're also beautiful and simple to build on a weekend afternoon. If you're interested in building your own raised flower bed, take a look at these step-by-step instructions (and get the kids involved for a fun family weekend activity!):

Pick the Perfect Spot

First step: Choosing where you want to put your raised bet. Depending on what types of flowers, vegetables or other plants you're planning on growing, you'll want to choose an area that gets a certain amount of sun or shade each day. If you're planning on planting a mix, find a spot near the house that will be in the sun for several hours and in the shade for part of the day as well. Once you've found your spot, take some measurements to determine the dimensions of your frame.

Gather Your Materials

While you can build a raised bed using a stone or paved frame, by far the easiest material to use for the project is wood. So, using the dimensions you've decided upon, gather four pieces of 2-by-10 wood for the sides of your bed. You'll also need four 16-inch 4-by-4 pieces of wood for the corner posts. Then find wood screws, a screwdriver, woodworking clamps and a level.

Start Building

Build the frame upside down by arranging the four sides and placing the 4-by-4 posts in each corner (they'll be sticking out above the frame). Use your screwdriver to fasten the sides to each other and then to the posts. Make sure the frame is even and level throughout the process.

Mark and Clear the Ground

When your frame is finished, set it upside down on the area you chose, and mark the ground underneath. Then, set the frame aside, and use a shovel and hoe to clear the ground that you marked of sod and loosen up the soil underneath. If you want, line the ground with landscaping fabric to prevent any weeds from taking over the raised flower bed. 

Set Up the Raised Bed

Get ready to put the frame into position by using a trowel to scoop out soil from each of the four corners for the posts to fit into. Carefully fit the frame into the holes, and use your level to ensure the frame is completely level before packing down the earth around the posts to secure it. Trim any excess landscaping fabric. 

Fill With Soil and Start Planting

Once the frame is in place, you can start to fill the bed with soil! Use about a half-and-half mixture of soil and organic compost (which can be made or bought from the garden store). The soil should fill the bed, stopping about three inches below the top of the frame. After smoothing the soil and moistening it slightly, start planting your flowers, veggies, shrubs or anything else you'd like to use. When the plants are in place, spread a layer of mulch across the top of the soil and you're finished!

 Remember: 

• Because raised flower beds drain more quickly than traditional gardens, it's important to stay on top of watering and fertilizing your plants. If your kids helped set up the bed, have them help you water the plants or seedlings regularly – that way, you'll all have a hand in the beautiful raised garden you created together.
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Source: Teleflora.com Blog