Thinking outside of the Vase: Vegetables and Fruits

Snapdragons, baby mums, phlox, roses and asters are staples in many home gardens. But have you ever considered some ways to build upon these flowers in arrangements that are fresh and contemporary?
Recently at The Smithy in New Preston I gave a workshop in which we explored some possibilities. To a bouquet of phlox and dusty miller I added stems of raspberries. For a burst of color how about purple asters. I place them in orange peppers-as-containers. Fresh herbs in a rectangular glass container were lovely all on their own, but adding a bed of river stones to the base of the clear container and several stems of colorful snapdragons upped the ante.
Why not mix roses with vegetables, and onions with frilly kale? How about using aspidistra leaves to conceal the oasis in a clear container? Arranging really offers us a chance to tap into our imaginations and to play. As an aside -- I use organic vegetables and herbs in my arrangements. Why? I know I’ll be chopping them up and using them for soup in a few days. What a fitting final destination.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Elegant Seaside Wedding at the Manursing Island Club

Image
What do palm, banana and monsters leaves, pine tips and pine cones have in common? For me at least, they bespoke of the favorite haunts of the two nature lovers who were about to tie the knot. It was my happy task to work these elements into large and elegant wedding at Manursing Island Club in Rye, NY, drawing upon a palette of white and green. And because the bride’s family splits its year between Rye and Bermuda, I had the mother of the bride’s white coral collection to draw upon as well. For the ceremony at the Church of the Resurrection, I had decorated the pews and altar with a variety of white flowers, lady’s mantle, seeded eucalyptus, grevillea and galax leaves. As the bridal party proceeded down the aisle, the bridesmaids’ deep navy dresses served as brilliant backdrops for the floral confections of white and green I’d made as bouquets. Shortly thereafter, as 285 guests gathered under a glistening tent, centerpieces of roses, lisianthus, freesia, hydrangeas, hyp
Read more

Magical Wedding Reception at a Country Horse Farm

Image
I’ve always loved the spare simplicity of the Sherman Congregational Church, tucked away on a quiet spot that time appears to have passed by.  So I was thrilled to have a chance to do the floral design work there for a wedding at the summer’s end.  A 20-foot garland of thick seeded eucalyptus framed the entrance to the church and gently cascaded to the landing.  Inside, two abundant arrangements of roses, dahlias, zinnias, and Million Bells flanked the Altar.  (They would make star appearances later at the reception.)      The bride’s family had rolled up their collective sleeves on their nearby horse farm -- emptying out the major barn and readying its interiors for an inspired transformation.   From the antique pine farm tables to the cutlery, goblets, linens, and décor, this was a sophisticated, yet marvelously understated affair.   I knew the Bride’s choice of blush-colored roses and white dahlias on the table runners of seeded eucalyptus would be perfect wi
Read more

Storybook wedding at Lake Waramaug Country Club

Image
It had the makings of a storybook wedding: childhood sweethearts, and spectacular views of the golf course at The Waramaug Country Club and of Lake Waramaug’s sparkling waters. Photo by Keane Eye Photography at Lake Waramaug Country Club With such ingredients already in place, I turned to glorious, old-fashioned lavender and white flowers to make this bride and groom’s celebration all the more special. The result -- as sweet as the young couple –could have served as inspiration for a succession of Victorian-era valentines. Centerpieces of scabiosa, calla lily, larkspur and white veronica complemented the bride’s bouquet of lavender and baby’s breath and groom’s matching boutonniere. (I repeated the floral mix in the aisle chair décor.) Votive candles brought these lovely wooden tables to life as the sun began to set. Meanwhile the couple supplied joy and exuberance. It was simply a stunning event.
Read more