Having Fun with Flowers: Design Workshops, Special Event Florals
Orlaya is a type of Queen Anne’s Lace and in this arrangement is a perfect complement to the burlap and lace decorating theme. Also in this centerpiece are Majolika spray roses, hypericum berries and seeded eucalyptus.
The woodland theme is a unique way to utilize natural, diverse materials. Here is an example of a handheld ‘bouquet’ that departs from the more usual emphasis on flowers and greenery. It resembles a small dish garden and can be as creative and personal as desired.
I found this cute collection of bottles wired together at a vendor’s booth at a recent garden show. Using a collection of bottles as centerpieces with a random selection of flowers is a popular trend, especially when wildflowers and nature themes are part of the event. The flowers here are mini-carnations and daisy mums.
Tropical flowers are long lasting, brightly colored, and dramatic in their shape and form. Here are examples of proteas and anthurium. The orange pincushion flower is a type of protea . . . anthuriums are heart shaped flowers that come in many colors. Birds of paradise are predominantly orange with accents of blue. In arrangements and bouquets, just a few flowers are needed to make a statement!
When you just have to plant something and it’s still winter, there are many indoor plants to choose from. Here are some cute houseplants in dish gardens accented with stones, a frog and a decorated stone I found at an art fair. (Unfortunately, I don’t have the artist’s name).
My collection of vintage animal themed planters made perfect accessories for decorating the venue for a baby shower. These include mini-carnations, spray roses, and daisy like asters (matsumoto).
Flowers for a baby shower . . . the baby’s room is being decorated in a woodland theme . . . animals and nature themes. It was a good opportunity to use wood ‘slices’ from some trees that needed to come down.
Using a base of natural greens, I added pine cones, dried rose hips,and eucalyptus from the garden along with some artificial berries, weather-proof ornaments and bows to make these wreaths. This year we had very few pine cones fall in the white pine stand of trees . . . next year I’ll be collecting as many as I can.
I love orange roses . . . the last opportunity to design with fall colors including sunflowers is around Thanksgiving. This is the last hurrah for orange roses and foraging in the yard and garden for rose hips, green plants and branches.
The Fantasy Christmas House is a fund raising event held each November in southern Wisconsin. The home is decorated for the holidays by local florists, designers, and vendors. It includes a Hall of Trees where decor and wreaths are donated for a raffle. I designed the Sunflower Tree that highlighted deep red sunflowers, pine cones topped by natural ribbon bows, bird nests and handmade bouquets of lotus pods and eucalyptus branches. The proceeds from this event benefitted the Ronald McDonald House.
