I can hardly believe it’s “that” time of year again but yes, yes it is indeed! Wedding season snuck up on me in the form of lovely Anel “Nellie” Resendez and her upcoming uber colorful and equally large wedding. While the actual event is still a month away, I’ve been busily testing (and re-testing) color arrangements until I come up with one that I feel suitably embodies her exuberant, creative and fun spirit. Regardless of the outcome, bright pink peonies will be the star flower in that bouquet!
I recently had a bride come in for a consultation who told me that another florist she visited said her preferred color choices would look “ugly” together. Uh, say what? First of all, I can’t think of any flowers that would look unattractive together. Beauty is such a subjective thing, as are color combos that “work”. I suppose the reason people seek us out to provide arrangements is because I don’t subscribe to any sort of formal floral guidelines. If it’s neat, and I like it, I use it. It’s that simple.
In fact, I pretty much seek out all the things at Market that most of the other florists are avoiding. Wait. What does that say about me?!
For the past several weeks I’ve been having a love affair with the Proteus. It’s super long-lasting, very prehistoric looking and absolutely gigantic. You truly only need one in a container to make a statement. Each time a customer comes into the shop they ask if it’s real and then want to touch it. I love that people are being introduced to these amazing blooms and seeing how beautiful they really are.
I recently did the above arrangement for an event my clients and friends, David and Janel Lehman were hosting at their home (that I also designed, yay me!). Both appreciate the strange and wonderful and it’s always fun to bring them new and interesting things to look at. Both of their young sons were able to touch and investigate the blooms, which makes it that much more special in my eyes.
For another upcoming wedding, I’ll be using white anemones. En masse they pack a lot of visual power, their bold, black centers make a graphic statement. This past week I picked up a couple bunches of garnet and purple anemones with color so true and deep it seemed impossible that they weren’t made of silk. In a simple blue and white container the colors are lush and elegant.
On the theme of purples, I decided to mix lilac and large black-purple Aeonium together in one of my favorite tarnished silver containers. Along with some pine cones and odd desert blooms the combo was a little alien and a little exotic, which of course I love.
I always encourage people to experiment when it comes to making arrangements. There is never a right or a wrong way to put things together but there are indeed right and wrong ways to prep the flowers, branches or grasses you may want to include. Be sure to do a quick Google search of prepping certain elements if you’re unsure. Most branches need to be split at the bottom cross-ways several times and some need to be pounded with a hard object until they are frayed (lilacs) in order to take in the right amount of water. Certain flowers can’t be mixed with anything else until they’ve “settled” for a day or so (Daffodils) or their sap will poison everything else in the vase. Other items rot quickly (artichokes) and therefore the water should be changed every single day to prevent noxious odors. I also think it’s useful to familiarize yourself with what I call “droppers” so you know whether or not you can tolerate them in your home.
Droppers are flowers, branches and plants that “drop” their leaves, blooms and seeds all over the damn place and make a hideous mess. Why would anyone want to use a dropper? Pieris Japonica is one of the most used droppers in floral arrangements because it adds so much beauty and drama. After a day or so those teeny little blossoms start leaping off the stem and into your bathtub, coffee or wherever else they magically seem to travel to. Another well-known and well-used dropper is pine. It’s needles need no introduction. Cabbage roses and peonies are two very elegant but very nasty droppers. I can leave my store overnight and come in the next day to find literally hundreds of petals strewn in a giant radius around the container they once occupied. Knowing which items do and don’t drop will help you select the best place to put them. Large, uncluttered surfaces are always the easiest to clean up.
Take some time this month to experiment with something you find in your garden or go to the farmer’s market and pick up a bouquet, some purple artichokes (my fave) and some black basil and conjure up an other-wordly, exotic arrangement to decorate your table. It’s not hard, and it adds so much to an everyday space you’ll find yourself searching for your next creative endeavor!
All my best,
Melisa
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