Baby Blue

The celebration was the Christening of a baby boy who also happens to have big beautiful blue eyes.

Table centrepieces (chrysanthemums, alstroemeria, mini carnations, commercial mums and lisianthus)

Cube vase arrangement with commercial mums, lisianthus and mini calla lilies

Large vase arrangement with commercial mums, dyed chrysanthemums, mini carnations, alstroemeria, lisianthus and various greens

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

 

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

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.

Christmas Flower Arrangements

Fresh flowers during the holiday season can brighten up a specific spot in your home or add some extra colour to a table setting.  Although the traditional colours of red and white are still extremely popular, some choose flowers to tie in with a specific colour theme.  Here are some of my creations from this holiday season. (for more detail information, see the Christmas floral arrangements page.)

Dendrobium Orchids

I enjoy working with all types of tropical flowers, and one that I find to be very versatile is the Dendrobium Orchid.  These orchid sprays are available in a variety of solid colours and some in two tone (white, light green, purple, blue, etc.). The long stem filled with flower and buds is usually a standout in any arrangement.  I used the combination of the Siam Blue variety (actual color is purple) Dendrobium with green Fuji (spider) mum and white lily to create these three arrangements.

The orchid is the focus of this upright arrangement.

 

 

The Dendrobium orchid shows off it's length in this low lying long arrangement.

 

Top view.

It's purple colour pops in this arrangement.