Knee-high blooms are everlasting

"She loves me, she loves me not," the kids chant in a chorus around a little patch of daisies blooming on our boulevard. Tugging flower petals one by one, their smiling young faces announce in a most traditional way that spring has sprung.

Join your kids during this beautiful season and take a closer look at the flowers in your yard, neighborhood park or in the vase on your kitchen table. Discover the interesting shapes of the petals that one by one compose a unique bloom. Then let your observations inspire you to make a bouquet of everlasting flowers from the most unusual of materials: wire and inexpensive, colorful knee-high stockings!

Here are the materials for a flower with four or five petals:

2 sheer knee-high stockings in white or pastel colors

A roll of 16- or 18-gauge wire

Scissors

Floral tape or green electrical tape

Vase or flowerpot with florist foam inside

Floral moss (optional)

Here's the fun:

1. Shape and twist the wire in a loop to form an outline of a petal that is about 1 inch in diameter. Think of it as the "frame" of the petal. Do not cut the wire at the base of the loop, but rather twist and turn the wire to form another similar-size petal next to the first until you have four or five petals. Do not cut off the wire.

2. Cut off the toe and the elastic end of a pair of sheer knee-highs. Stretch the stocking over a wire petal, then twist it in place at the base, stretch it a bit more, and then twist again. Wrap the wire around the base to fasten the stocking in place. Cut off excess stocking below the petal. Continue with each petal. This can be a two-person project. Your child can stretch the stocking over the petal while you do the twisting.

3. Cut the wire, allowing for a stem. Give the stem a nice finished look with floral or green electrical tape. Arrange in a flowerpot with floral moss or in a vase.

Tips: Glue miniature butterflies or bugs to the flowers, or add details with fabric paints in squeeze bottles.

Share a bouquet with someone special on Mother's Day!

---

Donna Erickson's new award-winning television series "Donna's Day" is airing on public television nationwide. Visit www.donnasday.com to find out when it airs on your local PBS station and to sign up for Donna's e-newsletter. Her latest book is "Donna Erickson's Fabulous Funstuff for Families." © Donna Erickson Dist. by King Features Syndicate