Colourful Bridal Shower

In May, I had the pleasure of creating some daisy arrangements for a Kate Spade inspired bridal shower. These colourful daisies complemented the perfectly orchestrated decor of black, white (with polka dots of course) and gold. Congratulations to the soon to be bride and groom.

Large arrangement for head table. Mini and large gerbera with a cushion of green pom pom chrysanthemums

Smaller arrangements occupied the guest tables and dessert table (mini gerbera, yellow spider mum, pom pom chrysanthemums, xanadu leaf and bear grass)

Mini gerbera boutonniere for the groom to be and wrist corsage for the soon to be bride

Special Birthday's

The month of May contained various floral projects including a few one-of-a-kind birthday arrangements.

For an orchid lover....white dendrobium orchids, lush roses and red hypericum berries

Spring blooms for someone who was celebrating a milestone birthday. Tulips, fragrant hyacinths and delicate lisianthus, with a bed of pom chrysanthemums

Large basket of blooms for someone whose favourite flowers are daisies and sunflowers. Mini sunflowers, gerbera daisies, carnations, green spider/Fuji mums and forsythia branches

 

Hand-tied Bouquets

Flower bouquets are by far the most popular type of flower arrangement in most flower shops. Bouquets are available in various sizes and can be kept to just flowers and greens or you can get one custom made with a variety of embellishments. Here are a few examples:

Chicken wire and midollino sticks are used to create an armature base. A mixture of hydrangeas, calla lilies, roses and alstroemeria flowers. Greens include, rolled aspidistra leaves wrapped with metalic wire and lily grass. Flat metallic wire was used to further accessorize.

This armature bouquet utilizes fresh curly willow branches for its base. Designed with iris, chrysanthemum, asiac lilies, alstroemeria, silver dollar eucalyptus and asparagus plumosa fern.

European hand-tied bouquet with twenty beautiful roses and hypericum berries.  Finished with a rolled aspidistra collar.

European Design Styles

European design is one of the many styles of floral design that have influenced the floral industry for many many years. European style emphasizes colour and variety of floral materials in mass gatherings of multiple flowers. Below are some designs derived from popular European arrangements.

Baroque design style utilizing an abundance of colourful roses (popular in England during this period) and softened with hypericum berries, asparagus plumosa fern and grapevine

 A table top wreath done in a landscape parallel design with lots of textures and groupings. (chrysanthemum daisy, antirrhinum (snapdragon), leucadendron, wax flower, myrtle, equisetum, statice and sheet moss

The Biedermeier design style was popularized in Germany during the 1800's and is identified with concentric circles around a central point, each featuring a specific flower. This arrangement features, liatris, asiatic lilies, white carnations, solidego, green trick dianthus, and a few ivy strands

Another influence was the use of armatures (structures) within the design service as a supporting core for the other materials. This vase design utilizes curly willow to form the armature (parrot tulips, deep purple lisianthus, mini gerbera, Israeli ruscus and bear grass

Spring Flowers

I love to see bunches of cut tulips for sale in late February at my local flower shops as it is a sign that spring is near.  Spring garden blooms bring us, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, forsythia and pussy willow to name a few. Here are some spring inspired designs.

Light pink tulips, lisianthus, novelty chrysanthemums, purple hyacinth and fresh curly willow

Pussy willow branches, yellow tulips, hydrangea, mini gerbera and solidago

Liatris, iris, forsythia, fragrant freesia and daffodils (narcissus)

Viburnum, alstroemeria, novelty chrysanthemum, mini gerbera and green trick dianthus

Radiant Orchid 2014 Colour of the Year

As you may have already read, pantone has announced "Radiant Orchid' purple as the colour of the year for 2014. Pantone describes: "Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health."

There is a currently a good selection of purple flowers available, but with its popularity increasing there will be even more choices coming to market. One of the recent additions that I have seen are Florigene Carnations available in various purple shades.  I had an order for some arrangements this month with the color purple being the main focus.
 

Low and long table centrepiece. Florigene carnations in light and dark purple, green fuji mum, yellow commercial mum and yellow carnations

This one sided arrangement contains campanula (bell flower family), liatris, green fuji mum, yellow carnations and purple lisianthus

Large focal arrangement bursting with pussy willow branches, campanula, liatris, green fuji mum, yellow commercial mum, Florigene purple carnations, yellow carnations, lisianthus and yellow mini gerbera

Tropical Lovers

During the month of March I had a few birthday arrangements where the flowers of choice were tropicals.  I chose to make these large arrangements with Ginger, Anthuriums and Leucadendron Safari.