OK, here is today's version. Telescopic, reasonably durable, reaches to 12 ins above ground level but collapses to 9 ins to fit inside my camera bag.
But this model requires a tiny bit of engineering skill and equipment so may not be feasible for a lot of people. That is why I designed the previous model. (In reality, 'designed' may not be the correct term here - but it sounds nice and technical).
Made chiefly from the plastic coated steel tube which Mike recommended. A plastic clothes peg to hold the flower stem (softer grip type would be better) and a Bulldog paper clip (or whatever is their modern name) to give a firm grip for attaching to the upright.
The upright tube is in 2 different diameters so one slides inside the other. The complicated bit is making the locking screw; I have screwed a nut to the top of the bottom tube then drilled and tapped to take a thread with a wing nut attached. This may be a bit complicated for many people.
The side arm is simply a length of the smaller diameter tube with one end flattened then drilled and bolted to the Bulldog clip, which has been reduced in width. The clothes peg is simply tied and glued.
In the transportation mode:-
For longer reach, the side arm can simply be clipped onto a length of garden stake. Any height required is easily adjusted.
As an alternative for the telescopic upright, I did think about a car radio aerial but that may be too flexible. Also considered using a larger clamp to attach the side arm to a monopod or a tripod leg. But I am trying for something which takes up as little space as possible.
At least this has kept me amused for a few hours!
Geoff.