Having Fun with Flowers: Design Workshops, Special Event Florals
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!
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.
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.
Zinnias are some of the most colorful, easy to grow flowers in the garden. Sowing seeds in the spring ensures blooms are at their peak in late August and into the fall. Bees and butterflies love zinnias, an easy way to help the pollinators thrive. Next year, I am planting more orange zinnias!
Dahlias come in many colors and sizes . . . they are at their peak in late summer in the garden. At the same time of the season, there are many complementary greens and fall blooming flowers available to add to the centerpiece or bouquet. The Dahlia Garden design below includes barberry twigs, sedum, russian sage, salvia, dusty miller, and eucalyptus.
Lavender roses were the star of these centerpieces for a baby shower. The mom and dad opted to be surprised (no gender reveal) so we did not use the pink, blue, yellow pastel theme for this fun event. Since the mom loves birds, we added a bird and nest to each arrangement . . . Babe orange spray roses, dianthus Green Trick, purple statice and a small daisy like aster completed the design. Hydrangea and sedum were added from the garden for contrast.
Summer is a bonus . . . flowers are at their peak in the garden in June and July. Stars this year include Bells of Ireland, daisies, dahlias, and lisianthus. Perennials are here briefly … delphiniums, butterfly weed, and hydrangeas are just a few.
The peonies bloom in early June in southern Wisconsin but are here for only a short time. Pink peonies plus hosta leaves, Solomon seal leaves and snow on the mountain blooms combine to make this garden arrangement.
