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