Equipment: a long narrow basket or container, oasis, German pins, cling film to line the basket.

Flowers and Foliage: a selection of small flowers (fresh or dried), foliage, seeds and berries. Colour and texture are important to create a patchwork effect. A long interesting shaped twig to add for interest.

Step 1: Line the basket (to prevent water damage) and add the wet oasis to the container.

Step 2: Arrange the twig along the length of the oasis and pin in place using the German pins. This provides a central structure to build the patchwork around.

Step 3: Start adding the flowers / foliage / berries / seed heads in small clumps of 3. Use different textures for impact and gradually build up the patchwork of texture and colour, keeping everything low in the basket. Have a couple of groups for impact eg. the coral roses and green hydrangea in the example above, the purples/ reds and white roses / hydrangea in the example to the side.

Step 4: Check the overall arrangement for balance and focal points. Also make sure everything is set low in the basket.

The overall affect is like a patchwork miniature woodland garden.

I used a selection of things from the garden and my store box: fresh roses, wild garlic flowers, chive flowers, purple iris and bay leaves. The red leucadendron and telopea came from the protea selection and are my impact flowers. The white hydrangea, purple eryngium (thistles) and poppy seed heads are all dried. The pine cones come from my Christmas collection.

I only watered mine very occasionally and many of the flowers dried well: the chive flowers, the wild garlic flowers and the roses. I have removed the small number of dead flowers and still have this going as a dried flower arrangement for the mantlepiece. Two months on it is still very decorative.