CUT FLOWERS

Color blocking, bunching together, trying not to get cut by thorns or sharp leaves… With everyday flowers the trick is to use less flower filling and make it more about the flowers. I will tend to put one or two leaves but really keep things minimal. But because I am no flower expert, I will try to let the flowers speak for themselves versus trying to hopelessly arrange and bother them.

HYDRANGEAS IN VASE

A friend from Ireland sent me the most wonderful Waterford Crystal presents, which included a pair of beautiful candlestick holders as well as this incredible vase! Irish crystal is wonderful, and I was very impressed at how the objects had travelled so well. I arranged some indigo hydrangeas which sat perfectly on the vase like happy perfect clouds.

DENDROBIUMS IN SUGAHARA BUD VASES

My budvases were collected inadvertently. Whenever a little vase catches my eye, I bring it home. It wasn’t until recently that i realised I had a few of them. These Sugahara ones are my favourite.

PEONIES AND PROTEAS

Some Peonies and Carnations with succulents from Lanai Flores and Cibo di M Florals. Their roundness is echoed in the spherical vessels they are in.

Protea, a South African import from Lanai. I love the vessel it is in, it has little etched stars in them that echo the sharp angles of the Protea.

ORCHIDS IN ASSORTED BUD VASES

These orchids came from stems that had wilted flowers. It’s a shame when some orchid flowers wilt while the others in the same stem are perfectly fine. Bud vases are a great way to create a whole new arrangement when parts of a larger floral arrangement are beginning to wilt. What is that proverbial saying- Don’t throw your dirty water out until you get clean water? Well in this case, throw out the wilted flowers, but keep the ones that aren’t.