What you need:

• 1 bunch Lilacs (cut 8 - 13 inches)
• 3 large yellow Garden Roses (cut 7 - 9 inches)
• 3 medium yellow Garden Roses (cut 7 - 9 inches)
• 1 large pink Garden Rose (cut 8 inches)
• 1 bunch Daffodils ( cut 5.5 - 9 inches)
• 1 Basket (the bottom of this one was 6 inches x 7 inches x 3 inches high
• small Grapevine Wreath ($3.25 at Michaels with a coupon - Ashland brand) or a section of grapevine 
• 2 wet pack Floral Foam bricks
• 2 plastic Produce Bags 
• 1) 3 inch Bird's Nest
• 1) Floral Pick with bird's eggs or 4 -5 bird's eggs
• pinch of Spanish Moss (the grey wiry moss in the nest) - Michaels
• 1) medium Floral Pick with wire

Tools Needed:

• 1) glue gun and glue stick
• produce knife
• garden sheers
• a mallet
• a cutting board

Steps: 6

Rated: Medium Arrangement

It's Easter, and in California it is spring.  My condolences for those of you who have just had another winter snow storm, but spring is coming.  When I think of spring I think of lilacs, and when I think of lilacs, I think of Vermont, where the air is full of the scent of lilacs in the spring, almost to the point of being intoxicating.  I also remember as a little girl growing up in Carson City, Nevada, having my mother show me how to make a whistle out of a lilac leaf.  Try it.  It really works, but it's more like a little toot.

After you cut the stems of the lilac, you will need to cut the ends with a knife across both ways, and hit the ends with a mallet.  This is because the stem is a 'woody stem' and this will help it absorb water and last longer.  You can use your butcher block for this.  I would recommend going outside and putting the butcher block on the grass, not hammering the stems on your kitchen counter, or even the sidewalk outside, as it might crack them.

Because its Easter, we're also going to put in a bird's nest with eggs.  You  may be able to buy a bird's nest with eggs, but if not, purchase the nest and some tiny eggs or a floral pick with bird eggs, use a pinch of Spanish Moss and with the help of a glue gun, you will have built your own bird's nest.  I cut the roses from my garden, and used my husband's Easter basket - hope he doesn't mind.  You can buy a swirl of grapevine at the craft store, but the cost was about $16.99, so I just bought a small grapevine wreath that came out to $3.25 with a coupon, and cut the vine that wrapped around the wreath, freeing the grapevine.  I stretched it out and wrapped it around a couple of times then cut the vine at different points, so as not to have a blunt cut.

Well, if you have borrowed an Easter basket (just don't borrow the kid's) and assembled your materials, you are ready to begin.