Pretty Pumpkins

I first saw these beautiful pumpkins on Pinterest. After some digging around I found the creative source to be Terrain, a home and garden store in Pennsylvania.  It has a wonderful online store and blog.  Lot's of good gift ideas for your favorite flower and garden enthusiast.  Here's the super easy directions to create your own botanical pumpkin from their site.

- Pumpkins
- A selection of delicate ferns, leaves, and vines
- Spray adhesive
- Mod Podge (milky white liquid that dries transparent--great for decoupage)
- Paint brush
1. Select your stems. Our favorites for this project are ferns and thin-leaved plants and vines.

2. Plan your pumpkin. Using the pumpkin's stem as a center point, imagine how and where you'll adhere your chosen plants. Don't be afraid to let the plant material inspire your design!

3. Begin adhering your plants. Using a spray adhesive, lightly mist the back side of your plants. Moving quickly, tack your first plant to the surface of your pumpkin. Keeping the leaves flush against the pumpkin and using a paint brush, spread a thin layer of Mod Podge over the leaf surface, pressing down on any leaves that pop up. Allow the Mod Podge to dry, and repeat with 3-4 additional layers of Mod Podge, until all of your plants have been adhered to your pumpkin.

4. Let it set. Working in a sunny spot will help speed your crafting process, but once your plants are secure against your pumpkins, find a dry, shady place to let them set overnight. 

5. Place your plant-patterned pumpkins around your home, grab a mug of cider, and enjoy your handiwork! 

www.shopterrain.com

Flower Tip -- Woody Branches

Everywhere you turn the trees have been blooming.  Right now in Northern Cal the Dogwood trees have started to open (although our recent run of hot weather has shortened the bloom time).  It is such a beautiful blossom.  I was at the SF Flower Mart and couldn't resist buying a few branches--okay it actually looks like a bought a small tree!  

There are a few ways to treat thick, woody stems.  Instead of just a single, angled cut it is important to open up the stem to allow for more water absorption.  One method is to "smash" the stem using a hammer...

 

...another is to cut up the stem in both directions using clippers to create a X....

...the final way is to scrape the sides using a knife. 

Here's my quick arrangement.  

The chartreuse vase was perfect with the hot pink dogwood blossoms.

Over The Top Flowers - Azuma Makoto

Azuma Makoto, is an amazing floral artist.  He has done major art installations in Paris, New York, Milan, Tokyo.  Recently he did a special exhibit for a new Isetan Department store in Japan.   Titled "Art of Plants", the work includes intricate foliage on entire walls, freestanding sculptures and suspended shapes.   Simply stunning!

Easter Flower Arrangements

Here are a few fun ideas for your Easter table (or spring table).

Tulips in a basket from Martha Stewart

Too cute with the bunny peeps peeping out!

Great wooden basket filled with tulips and eggs by Preston Bailey

These are just adorable--all by Preston Bailey--done with either fresh or silk flowers

Potted plants in eggs from Martha Stewart

Orchids in large egg shells by Carlos Mota

 

Colored eggs in a compote dish makes an easy centerpiece with the addition of a few flowers - BHG 

Different basket treatments from Martha Stewart--pussy willow and birch branches

Love this large blue hyacinths egg from Martha Stewart.  The directions made it sound soooo easy but I'm sure it would take some time and patients.  

Bouquets to Art - 2013

Spent last Wednesday in the city at the De Young Museum viewing all the amazing floral work for the annual Bouquets to Art.  More than 100 floral designers create arrangements that interpret artwork from the museum's permanent collection.  The event raises money for the museum to support conservation projects, education programs and special exhibits.

I also had the chance to attend two floral demonstrations by Cort Schwanebeck of Acres garden store in St. Helena, CA, and Laura Dowling, the current White House florist.  Watch for future blogs on their work.  

Here are a few photos of some of this year's Bouquets to Art creations.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to keep track of all the designers so can not give credit where it is do.