Abstract: The lower end of a bud vase (V, V') or some other floral container (V") sets onto a center portion of a base panel (26, 26') of a carrier (10, 10'). End walls (28, 30 or 28', 30') extend upwardly from the base panel (26, 26'). Top panels (32, 32', 34, 34') extend inwardly from the upper ends of the endwalls (28, 28', 30, 30'), with one (34, 34') overlapping the other (32, 32'). Each top panel (32, 32', 34, 34') includes a recess (40, 40', 42, 42'). The recesses (40, 40', 42, 42') together define a variable size opening for receiving a portion of the floral container (V, V', V"). The top walls (32, 32', 34, 34') are slid relatively together, or apart, while overlapped, to adjust the size of the opening. Each recess (40, 40', 42, 42')has a semi-oval shape and is deeper than it is wide at its widest location.

Abstract: A cardboard carrier for maintaining potted plants upright during shipment and handling is disclosed. The carrier is formed from a flat, rectangular cardboard blank having four parallel spaced apart fold lines that partition the blank into five rectangular panels. The carrier is assembled without staples or other fasteners by folding the blank about each fold line so that the central panel forms the bottom of the carrier, each panel contiguous to the central panel forms a side of the carrier and one of the outermost panels is superposed on the other outermost panel to form the top of the carrier. Each of the outermost panels include a circular central opening having inwardly extending tabular regions about the circumference thereof. The central openings come into alignment with one another when the container is folded so that a single circular opening having four equally spaced apart, inwardly extending tabular regions is formed.