Vases

Winter

Vases will be made once a week using store-bought flowers.

Summer

Vases will be made twice a week using garden flowers. Store-bought flowers will only be used if garden flowers are not sufficient, and for festivals.

Vase Maintenance

Rinse and clear vases of any debris before arranging fresh flowers. Use brush for scrubbing if needed.

Stem Management

Trim the stems using the designated shears at an angle to facilitate water absorption. Remove any excess leaves that may be submerged in water to prevent rotting. Clean the shears after use.

Bacterial Control

Add 1 TEASPOON of bleach* to the vase water to deter bacterial growth.

FLOWERS CAN BURN IF YOU ADD TOO MUCH BLEACH

* Use the labeled squirt bottle to fill the teaspoon. Refill the squirt bottle using the funnel. The squirt bottle with bleach, and the large bleach container, are stored in the "Vase Supplies" cupboard under the white buckets. If you add too much bleach the flowers will start to rot.

Water Level:

Fill water to the top of the vase for optimal hydration. Use filtered water.

Water Renewal:

When vases are used for a week (w/ bleach*), top off the water level near the mid week mark.

* In the absence of bleach, daily water renewal is recommended for best flower longevity. Rinse the stems, discard the existing water, and refill with fresh water.

Arrangement Style

Altar vases use a “Forward Facing Arrangement” style. Place taller flowers towards the back and shorter ones towards the front, forming a forward facing arrangement. Ideally the front lip of the vase is hidden with flowers.

Daily vases should be 15 inches tall.

Flower Proportions

For a standard arrangement (not festivals like pictured), there should be about 80% greenery and filler flowers to create the shape and 20% focal flowers that your eyes draw toward. 

Framing the Focal Flowers

Filler flowers and greenery should frame Focal flowers. 

Visualize the Arrangement

Before finalizing the arrangement, step back and visualize the overall design. Check for symmetry and adjust the placement of flowers if necessary. The arrangement should look balanced.

Placement & Timings

Once the vases are ready place them on the counter in the Pujari room. This should be done by 630 AM the morning they will be offered. It is recommended to make vases within 24 hours before they are to be offered for optimum freshness.

Note on Lilies or Stamen Flowers

Remove stamens from Lilies or similar flowers to prevent pollen mess on alter and in arrangement.

Srila Prabhupada Vases

Table vases use a “Top Facing Arrangement” style; the way a regular flower bouquet looks. Flowers on the outer edge are shorter and flowers in the center are slightly taller. Ideally the edge flowers are not far away from the lip of the vase. 

Height: From the bottom of the vase to the top most flower should be 13-15 inches tall, this is roughly upto the armrest of Srila Prabhupada's chair.

Width: Within the circumference of the vase table. We want to avoid extending stems as it is easy for these to cause the vase to be knocked over. 

[see example image below]

Dham Altar Vases

Two of the smallest vases can be used, each one placed in the center of the Dham images. Roughly 2-3 flowers can be used in each of these vases in a Top Facing Arrangement. [see example image] Only a drop of bleach is recommended in these small vases.

Flower Proportions

We are currently offering Gaura-Nitai's Maha Vases to Srila Prabhupada.

For the Dham Altar, 2-3 flowers can be used from Saturday garland's flower allocation.

Visualize the Arrangement

Before finalizing the arrangement, step back and visualize the overall design. Check for symmetry and adjust the placement of flowers if necessary. The arrangement should look balanced.

Placement & Timings

Once the vases are ready place them on Srila Prabhupada's side tables and the Dham altar.