I know this isn't quite what you're wanting to see, but when you mentioned eucalyptus I had to show you my wreath. This pic is from the Etsy seller's site (I don't have a photo of the wreath in my home - although it's hanging on one of the doors in the dining room). The colors in mine are a little bit deeper and richer, which makes it perfect for Fall. I've had it since last year, and it still smells heavenly. I love eucalyptus for the smell alone! :-)

Oakley I have an arrangement in an old stone type pitcher (brown on top/beige on bottom). I just used tall pices of eucalyptus in earthy shades. I seem to remember that you have a collection of old crocks??? Or maybe that was someone else.

You can find it anywhere in the dried flower section - mine came from Walmart. And they do smell for a long, long time. They are rumored to act as a room deodorizer - not sure about that. It has a "herby" smell.

I love that dyed eucalyptus. I used to keep a bunch in a vase and it did smell for a long time. It also collected a lot of dust. Same with my dad's silver dollar seed pods.

Have you tried live orchid plants? They are gorgeous and so easy. One of our grocery stores has been carrying them for $10. Even if you didn't keep the plant (or replaced and rotated, it takes a while to rebloom) - you can have fresh flowers for cheap. The blooms last for months.

tina

Natal, use that air in a can for computers and electronics. I use it to blow dust off the chandelier and for other floral arrangements.

I had no idea Eucalyptus (dried) smelled nice.

Oakley, it's long gone. I try to keep the dust catchers to a minimum, since dusting is something I tend to ignore until it's in my face. ;)

Air in a can? I'd be interested to hear more.

Oakley,
They actually make a spray cleaner for silks. You just take the plant outside and spray down occasionally. It really does a good job. One brand is "Silk and Splendor". I like it better than canned dust remover, because it's wet & seems more like a cleaner than a duster.

Liz

I worked for a florist for 6 years - Dried E. will smell for a very long time! If you pinch a dried leaf or two off (near the bottom)or scrape the stalk occasionally it will renew the scent. Blow dryers work well
for getting rid of dust - on house plants as well! Run on cool. E stems come in many sizes/heights/colors(bluish green the most natural) and are popular for large floor vases as well as smaller table style vases. In my experience they are not ofter used as a mixed arrangement with the exception of dried leaves/or berry type branches. They are sold frequently as a bunch wrapped in cellophane and are reasonably priced. You can break off smaller branches to fill out an arrangement at the bottom.

Jab, they may be called air cleaners. They sell them at Walmart or any computer store. It puts out powerful air, in a can like canned hair spray comes in.

I tried the blow dryer but they're not strong enough, the can of air is much faster and I love taking it around the house and zapping dust collectors sitting high on shelves. lol.

I heard about the spray cleaner for dried florals, but we get a lot of dust out here and I don't know if it'd cake the dust on it since it goes on wet.

If I see it in a store I'll grab some!

To make any floral arrangement I would prefer fresh and live Eucalyptus than using dried ones.

Here's mine Okey, I mixed in dried lotus pods from our pond
and put some pine cones on a stick and sprayed them bronze.
I got the asian vase on ebay with the intention of making a lamp out of it,
but many of the ladies here talked me out of it.

I really like natural inspired arrangements.

This is the DR one, again the twisted branches are from
our walking stick tree and the lotus pods and cat tails
are from our pond. The fish vase was a gift from our son,
he bought it back from a trip he took.

c&j, that first vase is breathtaking! Love the fish, too.

Sorry, Oakley, nothing dried here to show you.

joann, I love that vase too! And you did a wonderful job with the arrangement.

That vase would look great in my house! I have a lot of pinecones and spray them for Christmas, but I never thought of sticking one in an arrangement like that.

Pretty!