Question
I have been appointed the head of the Art and Environment committee at my school, which means that I need to do floral arrangements for our chapel, and in the main church a few times. I have no idea where to begin. I was wondering if you had any suggestions of where I might begin to look for ideas, tips on arranging, etc. The arrangements for the Church need to be large as they are far away from where the people sit. Any help, advice, etc you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. Hopefully I will able to produce something that resembles a decent arrangement ^_*

Answer
Using your church's tax id, first find a wholesaler in your area where you can purchase Oasis foam, containers, etc. in bulk and cheaply.  Most places will carry fresh flowers, too, for wholesale purchase.  You are right in so much as since the arrangements are far away for viewing, you need to go very large and use size appropriate flowers.  Lemon Leaf, Gladiola, Asiatic Lily, Liatris, etc. are all good plant material choices.  For ideas, one of the best sources are the flower book in florists intended to order from.  Check the FTD site online for photos, etc.  I am sure your arrangements will be gorgeous!  For tips on arranging, you might want to try the National Gardens website, www.ngc.org