Flower Arranging Trial III: Stargazin’
Flower Trial I:Orchids
Flower Trial II: Mums
I hate stargazer lilies. Really.
I know they smell good–kind of bubblegum-ish–but I just think they are so common and boring. Thursday my fiance took me to lunch and bought me none other than a big ole bouquet of stargazer lilies from the flower stand near my job. Coincidently I had seen the lilies and a few very bright stems of gerberas when I’d got off the train that same day and was thinking to myself, “Hmmmm, how I’d like to have a few stems of those!” But I got my lilies and was happy because of the thought.
So–love em or not–of COURSE I had to try to arrange them in a cool way. Here is what I came up with.
Branches! Gotta Love ‘Em!
It probably won’t surprise you–being the non-conformist I am–that I really like the use of branches…especially fresh blooming branches…in floral design.
But I also really like branches used as decoration (they have so much impact!), especially the below cool ones I found on ApartmentTherapy ( a web site meant to share interior decorating ideas for small spaces but that just has awesome decor ideas in general!).
Basically, they’re just lighted branches that can be used to spruce up the home…or, of course… as decoration. I think they would be lovely used in a ceremony.
I haven’t found who sells those exact branches pictured (I know some web sites in the UK do) but Phillips has something similar called Aurelle Lawn Stakes.
I also found some cool beaded artificial branches on a web site, White Aisle.
Though silk flowers are not definetly not my thing, I do really like the decorative dried branches/sticks/grasses/curly willow that have become so popular in event design.
These things can be found at any craft store and are great for adding a modern flair to design.
Manzanita branches and trees are also great alone or to hang small votives from.
And though I suppose these arent’t really “branches” my favorite floral add of all are these cool fern shoots (or fern curls) (see below).
A Cleveland florist, Fleurs de France, uses fern curls in many of her designs. One place you can order fern curls from online is HawaiiBlooms. Basically, you just stick the fern curls in your flower arrangements for a whimsical look.
That’s all for now. Hope I inspire someone!
Oh, and if you do love branches like me, here is a great and affordable web site that is sure to get the creative juices flowing. This website, DriedFlowersRUs, is also good.
Branches! Gotta Love ‘Em!
It probably won’t surprise you–being the non-conformist I am–that I really like the use of branches…especially fresh blooming branches…in floral design.
But I also really like branches used as decoration (they have so much impact!), especially the below cool ones I found on ApartmentTherapy ( a web site meant to share interior decorating ideas for small spaces but that just has awesome decor ideas in general!).
Basically, they’re just lighted branches that can be used to spruce up the home…or, of course… as decoration. I think they would be lovely used in a ceremony.
I haven’t found who sells those exact branches pictured (I know some web sites in the UK do) but Phillips has something similar called Aurelle Lawn Stakes.
I also found some cool beaded artificial branches on a web site, White Aisle.
Though silk flowers are not definetly not my thing, I do really like the decorative dried branches/sticks/grasses/curly willow that have become so popular in event design.
These things can be found at any craft store and are great for adding a modern flair to design.
Manzanita branches and trees are also great alone or to hang small votives from.
And though I suppose these arent’t really “branches” my favorite floral add of all are these cool fern shoots (or fern curls) (see below).
A Cleveland florist, Fleurs de France, uses fern curls in many of her designs. One place you can order fern curls from online is HawaiiBlooms. Basically, you just stick the fern curls in your flower arrangements for a whimsical look.
That’s all for now. Hope I inspire someone!
Oh, and if you do love branches like me, here is a great and affordable web site that is sure to get the creative juices flowing. This website, DriedFlowersRUs, is also good.
Branches! Gotta Love ‘Em!
It probably won’t surprise you–being the non-conformist I am–that I really like the use of branches…especially fresh blooming branches…in floral design.
But I also really like branches used as decoration (they have so much impact!), especially the below cool ones I found on ApartmentTherapy ( a web site meant to share interior decorating ideas for small spaces but that just has awesome decor ideas in general!).
Basically, they’re just lighted branches that can be used to spruce up the home…or, of course… as decoration. I think they would be lovely used in a ceremony.
I haven’t found who sells those exact branches pictured (I know some web sites in the UK do) but Phillips has something similar called Aurelle Lawn Stakes.
I also found some cool beaded artificial branches on a web site, White Aisle.
Though silk flowers are not definetly not my thing, I do really like the decorative dried branches/sticks/grasses/curly willow that have become so popular in event design.
These things can be found at any craft store and are great for adding a modern flair to design.
Manzanita branches and trees are also great alone or to hang small votives from.
And though I suppose these arent’t really “branches” my favorite floral add of all are these cool fern shoots (or fern curls) (see below).
A Cleveland florist, Fleurs de France, uses fern curls in many of her designs. One place you can order fern curls from online is HawaiiBlooms. Basically, you just stick the fern curls in your flower arrangements for a whimsical look.
That’s all for now. Hope I inspire someone!
Oh, and if you do love branches like me, here is a great and affordable web site that is sure to get the creative juices flowing. This website, DriedFlowersRUs, is also good.
Bouquets: The Good, Bad and yes, (flowers can be) Ugly
Sometimes knowing what you don’t want is the best starting place of all.
Which brings me to the matter of the flowers that I and my lovely maids will carry during the ceremony.
Hmmm..let me first say that when thinking of places to spend $$ this is one area always in the back of my mind.
I dunno. It just seems pointless to spend $100 plus for my bouquet and $70 each for bridesmaids’ flowers (yes, that is the going rate.
A second consideration about bridal bouquets, is the fact that, in my opinion and taste, I do not like the way a bunch of different flowers in different colors look grouped together. I tend to feel like flowers are much more striking when beautifully displayed alone or few. Same thing with bouquets.
I’ve found that I much prefer smaller, hand-tied bouquets and posies to those humongous things I’ve seen a lot of brides carry!
Here are things I definitely don’t like:
Ummm….NO
Uhhhh…NO!!
But HERE are some I love:
Notice how the above bouquet looks feminine (even
though there are a lot of flowers) and is personalized with the crystal accent and the pretty monogrammed wrap.
***
Above is the pretty carnation bouquet I posted about before. I like its simple, yet elegant look and especially how it’s tied together with that black pleated fabric and detail! 
Now, the one above may be my absolute favorite! It is composed of white anemones with black-button centers. I hope anemones are in season in August because I would love to use them somewhere.
And these bridesmaid’s bouquets I like because they look petite and dainty–more like posies.
And lastly, see the below gorgeous nosegay-shaped bouquets of white spray roses,Vendela roses and anemones: 
Or what about bridesmaids carrying a single Vendela rose down the aisle with a pretty fabric wrapped tied around the stem? I’ve seen large Calla Lillies done this way, but…I don’t like Calla lilies at all (don’t shoot me).
Also, what do you think about the flower girls carrying pomanders–small versions of the below? A pomander is just a foam ball (available at any craft store) into which you can stick silk flowers or fresh flowers, thereby covering the ball completely with flowers. You can then attach whatever kind of decorative handle you’d like. I’ll make one and post it later.
I have a folder on my computer where I keep photos like these of all the things I really like AND dislike so that I can take them with me to vendors. Even though we’re still inclined to DIY table flowers, I’m not adventurous enough–nor do I think there will be enough time–to try to make bouts, corsages and bouquets. These are the only thing we plan on using a florist for.
Don’t Call It A Comeback…
Let’s take a minute to think about one flower that may perhaps be one of the most forsaken, underappreciated, overlooked and denigrated bud on earth–the carnation.
The carnation has always been that flower, at least in my experience, that everyone knew was really cheap and noone ever bragged about receiving.
In high school, it was the flower that you could anonymously send for $1 to the homeroom of your crush…
Or it was the trite flower handed out en masse at high school football or basketball appreciation games…
Or it was the flower that you used for your school science experiment where you tried to see if the stem would soak up food coloring and then turn that color…
Or it was the flower a guy gave you when he was too cheap to buy roses…
To put it simply, the carnation has never been looked at as particularly special, rare or esteemed.
Until now!
Wise flower-lovers and the florally inclined have increasingly been recognizing this neglected flower’s natural beauty.
They key to making carnations beautiful in arrangements is to use a whole lot of them all in the same monochromatic color. I mean a LOT. Bunched in cubes of 40 or more, carnations can be quite striking. And the best thing is that they’re really, really cheap! I guess I said all of that to say that I think carnations, if you use like a thousand can be really hot. They’re not on the wedding agenda right now, but who knows, they may just make a guest appearance!
See below:
Or imagine the below centerpiece using all orange carnations:
But don’t call it a comeback.
Really. They’ve been around for years.
Don’t Call It A Comeback…
Let’s take a minute to think about one flower that may perhaps be one of the most forsaken, underappreciated, overlooked and denigrated bud on earth–the carnation.
The carnation has always been that flower, at least in my experience, that everyone knew was really cheap and noone ever bragged about receiving.
In high school, it was the flower that you could anonymously send for $1 to the homeroom of your crush…
Or it was the trite flower handed out en masse at high school football or basketball appreciation games…
Or it was the flower that you used for your school science experiment where you tried to see if the stem would soak up food coloring and then turn that color…
Or it was the flower a guy gave you when he was too cheap to buy roses…
To put it simply, the carnation has never been looked at as particularly special, rare or esteemed.
Until now!
Wise flower-lovers and the florally inclined have increasingly been recognizing this neglected flower’s natural beauty.
They key to making carnations beautiful in arrangements is to use a whole lot of them all in the same monochromatic color. I mean a LOT. Bunched in cubes of 40 or more, carnations can be quite striking. And the best thing is that they’re really, really cheap! I guess I said all of that to say that I think carnations, if you use like a thousand can be really hot. They’re not on the wedding agenda right now, but who knows, they may just make a guest appearance!
See below:
Or imagine the below centerpiece using all orange carnations:
But don’t call it a comeback.
Really. They’ve been around for years.
Don’t Call It A Comeback…
Let’s take a minute to think about one flower that may perhaps be one of the most forsaken, underappreciated, overlooked and denigrated bud on earth–the carnation.
The carnation has always been that flower, at least in my experience, that everyone knew was really cheap and noone ever bragged about receiving.
In high school, it was the flower that you could anonymously send for $1 to the homeroom of your crush…
Or it was the trite flower handed out en masse at high school football or basketball appreciation games…
Or it was the flower that you used for your school science experiment where you tried to see if the stem would soak up food coloring and then turn that color…
Or it was the flower a guy gave you when he was too cheap to buy roses…
To put it simply, the carnation has never been looked at as particularly special, rare or esteemed.
Until now!
Wise flower-lovers and the florally inclined have increasingly been recognizing this neglected flower’s natural beauty.
They key to making carnations beautiful in arrangements is to use a whole lot of them all in the same monochromatic color. I mean a LOT. Bunched in cubes of 40 or more, carnations can be quite striking. And the best thing is that they’re really, really cheap! I guess I said all of that to say that I think carnations, if you use like a thousand can be really hot. They’re not on the wedding agenda right now, but who knows, they may just make a guest appearance!
See below:
Or imagine the below centerpiece using all orange carnations:
But don’t call it a comeback.
Really. They’ve been around for years.
Flower Arranging Trial #1: Orchids!!
Today, fiance came into the city to have lunch with me (he works in Virginia, I in DC) and on our way back to work we stopped and bought some very lovely Dendrobium Orchids from a flower stand.
The bunch has 10 tall stems in it and cost just $13 (which is weird because online florists want $3-$5 a stem…). Anyway, the blooms are this pretty/exotic purple/green/turquoise color (maybe have been dyed?) and looked to be in pretty good shape when I bought them.
I bought the orchids only to see how well they hold up–specifically in the case that we end up doing DIY centerpieces.
So, I’m going to put some of them in a vase with water and the others I am going to submerge in a vase under water. I’ll track the progress of both the normal and submerged orchids.
But so far, I am very happy with how “sturdy” they seem to be… and with how they just look lovely all alone–with very little effort or “arranging” by me.
And here are the flowers on “floral frogs,” bases with pins for simple arranging. The “frogs” make the flowers sink and stay under water for the submerged look (you can use rocks/marbles to cover the frog.
I didn’t like how the frog looked in the vase, however. So I’m still trying to figure out how to keep the orchids submerged without weighting it down.
CARE – CUT ORCHIDS
To retain the dendrobium¹s radiance for up to two weeks, follow these healthful hints.
Unpack the flowers immediately.
Trim up to 1/2 inch off the stems.
Place the flowers in clean cool water for 5-10 minutes. If you have received dendrobiums and they are wilted upon unpacking, simply submerge whole sprays for 10 to 15 minutes in cool tap water.
Trim stems and change water 2 times a week.
Keep flowers away from heat and temperatures below 45 degrees F.
Dendrobium orchids are slightly sensitive to ethylene. To avoid ethylene buildup, you¹ll want to ensure adequate ventilation and sanitary conditions. What are the ideal storage conditions for dendrobium orchids? These tropical treasures will stay their loveliest when held in water and at 50 to 55 degrees F. Holding dendrobiums for more than a week at temperatures below 45 degrees can cause blooms to discolor or drop.
Rethinking DIY Flowers
OK–So here’s the deal.
I know what I want the flowers at our wedding to look like. Exactly.
And considering the savings to be seen from having my mom and crew help me with very simple centerpieces and the omnipresence of wholesale flowers online, I have been very set on creating our own centerpieces etc.
The most compelling reason for this thought is the sheer price-tag on florists.
The second reason is that we’re not having a bunch of flowers, anyway…and the idea of having complete control over the outcome.
BUT, after reading tons of caveats about DIY flowers…I have begun to reconsider.
I mean, anything can go wrong. What if the flowers never arrived? Or arrived in bad shape? Or wilted? Or…the list goes on.
What if, even after test-running my arrangements well in advance, they just don’t come out right for our big day?
What if someone really hurts themselves de-thorning roses?
Fiance and I were talking tonight, and seeing how simple we want our centerpieces, we think we’ll price some florists first just to see. Originally, I was going to a floral only for: bouts and my bouquet.
We’ll meet with some florists the second week of October and I’ll update you then.
But do know, if it’s too outrageous, I’m sticking to the original plan.
