And now for something completely different! This arrangement is made using two complete blocks of floral foam, which have been joined together, one on top of the other, with barbecue sticks. Wooden sticks are better for this job than wires, as the wood expands when wet, to give a tighter grip on the foam. The top block has been tapered slightly, and the top has been cut to form a point. The whole thing sits in a plastic saucer, which is placed onto a gold-sprayed flat bamboo basket. A ring of large Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart' leaves have been pinned on around the base of the foam, to cover the plastic saucer (see detail, below). Next, a ring of plain green leaves of the wild Ivy, Hedera hibernica, have been pinned on, overlapping to hide the foam. More rings of overlapping Ivy leaves have been added, working upwards, until the top is reached. The pointed apex has been covered with yellow-variegated Hedera helix 'Midas Touch', to give a contrast to the plain green. (A closeup view is below.) Once the entire foam shape was covered, I added some yellow-green Cymbidium orchids, dotting them around so that they were evenly distributed. Finally, to repeat the gold of the basket base, and to add a change of form and texture, I added several twisted stems which had been sprayed gold.

This picture is a closeup of the top of the design, showing the pointed apex with the Hedera helix 'Midas Touch'.

Here's a close-up of the base of the arrangement, showing the gold flat basket and the overlapping Hedera colchica 'Sulphur Heart' leaves.