Bouquets To Arts

Every year the San Francisco Auxiliary of Fine Arts Museums hosts a floral exhibit and fundraiser.  This year's event, held at the de Young Museum, featured arrangements from 150 floral designers who created displays that pay tribute to or were inspired by the de Young's permanent art collection. 

It was pouring down rain on the day I attended the event (much needed rain for our area!) so a good day to be inside and enjoying amazing works of art by our local floral designers.  I tried to take a few pictures to share but it was very crowded at the event so not the best photos.  Maybe a better camera would help!  Hmmmm...I think my business should consider investing in some new equipment. 

 I wish I could give credit where credit is due but I wasn't able to keep track of all the designers and their work.  Enjoy!

Porcelain Flowers

Vladimir Kanevsky's one-of-a-kind handcrafted botanical creations are amazing in their beauty and detail.  I saw these pictures in a Wall Street Journal magazine article and was blown away by how each intricate flower is made from porcelain.  Stunning.   The prices are a bit high--custom work starts at $3,000--but these flowers will last a lifetime.  For more information on Mr. Kanevsky and his work go to www.vladimircollection.com

Narcissus

Spring comes early in California.  About two months early if you are used to Midwest weather.  Magnolias are starting to bloom, crab apples are flowering and the little sunny heads of narcissus are  poking through the ground. 

This week at the Moraga Farmer's Market a new vendor appeared selling a variety of Narcissus (or more commonly known as daffodils).  I couldn't resist and picked up a small bouquet to enjoy at home.

Moraga Farmers Market

Narcissus 'Erlicheer'

Narcissus are tricky to use in an arrangement since they can be toxic to other flowers.  White sap is released from the stem of narcissus when cut which can clog the stems of other flowers and block water intake.

It is possible to use narcissus in a mixed bouquet if you are careful and process your flowers separately.  First, rehydrate the narcissus in a their own bucket by cutting the stems on an angle and placing in very cold and shallow water.  Narcissus like cold feet--not legs!  (The verdict is out on whether a preservative is beneficial to narcissus.)  Then leave the flowers for at least 6 hours or better, overnight.  This will allow all the toxic white sap to be released.  To use with other flowers, remove from the processing bucket and place in your vase with fresh water.  Do NOT recut the stems.  If you recut the stem additional sap will be released and contaminate the water.

Narcissus 'Erlicheer', Hellebore, Pieris 'Purity' arranged in a simple pitcher vase from IKEA

Narcissus and Ranunculus in my favorite new orange vase from Crate-n-Barrel

Perfect Petals

When buying roses from your local grocery store or farmers market, most roses will still have their protector petals.  Protector petals are the outer layer of rose petals.  They may look bruised, crushed or even a bit green but this does not mean the rose is bad.  Rose growers typically leave the outside layer of petals intact to insure the rose is protected during shipment--hence the name.  Simply remove the first layer of petals to reveal a perfect rose. 

I think roses are beautiful in all their stages, from tight buds to fully open and ready to drop their first petal.  However, sometimes I'm not patient enough to wait for my roses to open.  Maybe you're having a party tonight and you want that full, voluptuous look that only a rose that has been around for a few days can give.  But you just bought your roses--so what to do!  You can achieve this look by gently (or not so gently!) coaxing the rose open.  Work your fingers between each petal and pull apart.  Continue to press each petal open until you have a fully "opened" rose.  Viola!

Favorite Floral Designers

A rainy day in California so indoors and on the computer.  I spend a lot of time looking for new ideas and products online that I can incorporate into my own work or pass on to my fellow flower fans. While searching the web I always run across photos from other designers.  There are so many wonderful floral designers out there and many of them have beautiful websites to showcase their work.  It's fun to see how other designers are combining flowers, textures and colors!  Here are a few of my favorite sites to check out and be inspired.

Botany is located in Southern California.  I wish this shop was close to me!
www.botanyflowers.com

Florali is the florist I recommend the most when asked where to get high end flowers in the East Bay.
www.florali.com

Florisity uses a combination of Asian and classic, old world styling in stunning arrangements.
www.florisity.com

 

Rosenow, a San Francisco florist that makes everyones list of favorites.
www.rosenowfloral.com

Custom Creations

"Dried flowers" - makes you think of dust, attics and overly cute country decor.  Not exactly my style, so I never thought about working with anything but fresh flowers.  When I was thinking about starting a new business I was searching for a way to be creative with flowers, but without always having to deal with a perishable product.  Somehow I stumbled upon a dried flower wholesale website which showcased the flowers brilliantly and introduced me to soft preserved flowers such as hydrangeas and roses.  Okay, now we're talking!  I could work with these and started looking at all the possibilities dried flowers offered.  Hey, just because it's dried doesn't mean it can't be fun, colorful, and contemporary.  So here are a few new designs.  Of course I can make anything, just ask!

Green hydrangea, sola flowers, scabiosa seed heads and eucalyptus seed pods

Preserved purple hydrangea, nigella seed head and echinops

Oregano 'Kent Beauty', fuchsia cockscomb and peonies

Lambs ears, echinops and preserved blue hydrangea

Hydrating Hydrangeas

"There are no unattractive flowers, just unattractive flower arrangements."

I'm not sure who to attribute this quote to but I couldn't agree more.  All flowers are beautiful.  Yes, even the lowly carnation (but not the dyed versions--that is just wrong!).

I really don't have a favorite flower but if I am forced to pick just one I would have to say the hydrangea.  What's not to love?  They can be the front and center star in an arrangement or play a supporting role; they last for weeks and weeks once cut and can be easily dried; and, they come in a glorious range of colors--pinks, purples, blues, greens, white and, in the fall, a combination of rich colors called "antique".

Early spring hydrangea can be a little finicky--they are not as hardy as their fall cousins!  So it's important to make sure the hydrangeas are properly hydrated.  To help the hydrangeas absorb enough water, add a pinch of Alum powder to your vase water.  Alum is a preservative used in pickling and can be found in your grocer's spice section.  I can't explain exactly how it works but picked up the tip from growers at the San Francisco Flower Mart.  

Sometimes even proper care can result in a wilted flower.  But all is not lost!  You can usually revive the hydrangea by floating the flower in a bucket of water.  Just fill a bucket with cool water full enough that the stem will not touch the bottom of the bucket.  Recut the hydrangea and place in the water so it is floating and then ... wait.  It may take a few hours or even overnight but almost every time your hydrangea will emerge happy and healthy and ready to be put back in your arrangement.   

A sad, sorry looking hydrangea

floating the flower in a bucket of water

the next day...a re-hydrated hydrangea!