working with flowers
a wishing well in our neighbour’s garden / tree dahlias with their delicate, slightly shaggy mauve petals that fall almost as soon as they bloom
For the next few months I’ll precariously juggle the work/parenting role as deadlines overlap and children run circles around my desk. It happens at this time every year and for at least four days a week I’ll sit at my computer, a hot water bottle on my lap and a cup of tea nearby; an attempt to keep warm and comfortable as I wade my way through a long list of editorial.
Right now I’m working on a feature about international flower trends and I’ve happily discovered a beautiful world of blooms and botanicals. Urban florists are buying farms to grow their own flowers, and greenery, once an afterthought, is now the hero of the bouquet. The bright young things of the floristry world are creating a cacophony of colour and texture with homegrown and seasonal flowers; a balance of style and sustainability in the prettiest of vases (or old jam jars).
It’s romanticised, I know, but I’ve always loved the idea of working with flowers; arranging tissue paper peonies next to baby hydrangeas and muted grey/green leaves. Imagine an odd collection of buckets, jars and jugs, coiled twine and linen ribbon, brown paper wrapping and hand drawn cards. I’m forgetting the early morning market runs, bookkeeping and tight delivery schedule but still, the picture is appealing, no?
Whilst a bunch of hand-picked lavender or supermarket daisies make a pretty vignette, I’m still enamoured with the the idea of learning a little floristry from a professional. I’m wishing and hoping that somewhere soon a little one-day course pops up and I’ll happily indulge in a day of flower arranging.
Do you have any tips for flowers in the home? Or are you happy with a bunch of herbs on the kitchen windowsill? If you had the opportunity, what profession would you indulge in, if only for a day?
Recent Posts
Showing 25 comments
I'm doing a weekly link up – called nature in the home, which is about this very thing. Blooms at home and how display.
these photos are absolutely gorgeous! 🙂 i am happy with window-sill herbs, so no words from me
kw ladies in navy
I love having flowers around my home! In order to keep the vase clear and the flowers perky as long as possible, I mix sugar and either vinegar or vodka into the water. The sugar feeds the flowers while the vinegar/vodka inhibits the growth of bacteria in the water. Combined with frequent water changes, I've found that doing this makes my bouquets last twice as long!
Emily
There is a great flower arranging e-course over on Nicole's Classes that I have been eyeing for a while (as I am a bit obsessed with playing with light, FOD, and shutter speeds while photographing flowers). I believe Rebekka Seale took the course…. or at least was thinking of taking the course. You could check with her to see if she liked it or not. She has done tons with flowers (as seen by her beautiful artwork, which you know so well).
And yes, keep an eye on things over at Lou's on Wednesday's! There are always eye-popping arrangements to be seen. Also the blogs Elphantine & blog-a-la-cart often have beautiful flower displays ….and of course, so do I! (hee, hee, not really but aim to some day.) xxoo
PS this is my advice for my artistry of flowers: I use mason jars. and small jam jars. I love the big petals pushing out from the crystal clear jars. I love the flowers to be my focus, and to let the water and the clear glass be the template in which they are lain.
I love taking their photos in natural light, no flash (obviously) so I always have an arrangement near my window on our kitchen/dining room table. I also love to draw them so it is important to have their souls sing out in simplistic arrangements. I alsohave two Jam jars that have stones and seashells collected by my boys at the bottom of them. I bring those out when I am in love with the flowers I have. There is something beautiful about the collection: water, stones and shells precious to my merry men, glass jars, flowers. it is a striking composition so it can't be too over done. I always aim for simplicity. Okay, now I have written too much (again). xo
Love flowers, I try to make sure there are always a few Fowler preserve jars filled with delicious blooms in our house at all times.
A friend of ours is a flower farmer and we love taking a trip up to his farm, he specializes in the most amazing hydrangea, ranunculus and kale (flowers). I was able to indulge in a florist fantasy for my wedding as our friend gifted us all our flowers and we spent the day at the farm arranging the bouquets and table settings.
Next time you're down in Sydney you should visit My Violet in redfern or follow her on Instagram @Mivioleta she is a lovely romantic vintagey florist.
A beautiful and romantic notion for sure. My brother once worked in a flower market. The starts were early, and he worked in a cold room, but he learnt the names of so many flowers. He also got to take home some of the most amazing blooms with a crushed petal or a bent stem and always gave them to my Mother.
I love having flowers on the table and around the house. But my budget doesn't always allow very much for their purchase. When we moved in to our house I got to work building a 'cut flower garden,' a term I'd read in a novel, so I would always have flowers for the house. I've started with my favourites roses, lavender, hydrangea and dahlias.
PS. Rice works a treat to clean glass vases and bottles, particularly if you can't get a sponge inside. Half fill the vase with water and add a handful of rice and some detergent or bicarb soda and swirl it around for lovely clean glass. 🙂
I have several teeny-tiny vases that are desperate for a clean, i shall try your rice trick-thanks for the tip.
The rice + bicarb trick works a treat. Thanks, Christina! x
I work in a flower shop, surrounded by vibrant colors and heavenly scents everyday. I must say, it is a dream job for sure. I consider myself very lucky to be around things that bring me so much happiness. And even though I have the pick of any flower I want to bring home, it's the ones I pick from my own garden or side of the road that I find the prettiest…and I love them ten times more when put casually into an old jar.
The floral industry has really changed in the past several years. It has become a creative art …. I am inspired everyday. Have you ever read the blog An Apple A Day?
It's incredibly inspiring and yes, it has evolved to be so much more than blooms in a vase. I'm especially loving the headpieces I'm seeing around the bridal world, and they're not all worn by barefoot bohemians either – so refreshing to see flowers in the hair of those brides who are choosing the elegant, classic, even traditional look. Is An Apple a Day a blog by Amy Merrick? If so, yes, I'm in love x
We have done some beautiful weddings lately. The brides take my breath away and headpieces are very popular now. We did one last weekend that was all wildflowers and in a barn…it was stunning.
Yes…an apple a day with Amy Merrick…..she is so inspiring in how she turned her passion into such beautiful work.
Can't wait to read more about your work. 🙂
A girlfriend of mine what a florist for years. I too adore flowers and still like the idea of it, but I remember the visits to "behind the scenes" – standing on concrete floors, hands in water constantly, stained by stripping back foliage, more than that sore hands from wiring flowers and spiking herself – injuries I would never have associated with floristry.
I too have always loved the idea of working with flowers (the romanticised version!). Two years ago, a friend and I were actually in the early stages of starting a little floristry business, but then I had a baby and she started full-time work again and it all went to the wayside. It was probably for the best, as now I know a little more about the behind-the-scenes work I'm not sure if it was completely my cup of tea! I'd love to do a little flower arranging course, too – our TAFE and adult education centres run courses over a few weeks, but I'd prefer a one-day course. As for the profession I'd love to indulge in for a day – food styling! I've always wanted to know the tricks of their trade.
I'd love to do an evening class in ikebana when i'm able, even though it's a little restrained for my taste i think it would train your eye quite well for more the more florid floral stuff.
When I wrote that piece on London's best florists, I ended up doing a lot with flowers (surprising given that I was primarily a food writer!) – I project managed and edited a book by Jamie Aston (have you looked him up btw?) and then spent a day with Jane Packer on one of her floristry courses. I got so into it (at a time when I was planning my own wedding) that I started visiting the flower markets in London and making up my own bouquets to sell on the side. Graeme then bought me a six-week floristry course and I picked up so many techniques that I still use today. There's nothing like fresh blooms, and a dream of mine (once we own our home again) is to have a wild meadow – cornflowers and poppies in miniature glass bottles around the house. I'd pick blousy hydrangeas too and my favourite (though I doubt I could get it to grow over here): peonies. x
Sounds fascinating! I am a huge admirer of Sarah from the blog Saipua. She is a well known florist in NYC who recently bought a farm in upstate NY to grow flowers for her shop/work. Her arrangements are phenomenal–dark and moody and tumbling, more greenery than flowers, but her writing… oh, her writing is like poetry. I second the recommendations for taking an online flower arranging class. So fun!
I used to fantasize about being a florist. Working a very busy stressful job in a hospital I distinctly remember having to pop into the next door florist to pick up a bouquet. The girls were all in overalls, with plaits, the radio on, surrounded by gorgeous blooms. It was such a moment of serenity I was quite envious and wanted to run off and join them. Unfortunately I have hayfever that does not agree with many lovely blooms, thank goodness for the humble rose. mel x
I don't know about floristry…I am happy with some simple blooms tucked in a pretty vase or jug…but I would love my garden to be overflowing with flowers all year long.
octopus' garden @ the jetty 🙂
hit it up!
I've just fallen in love with billy buttons! They make such a cheery arrangement on the winter table…This is a fitting post to pop in and say a heartfelt thank you for the Little One article. You helped make a lot of people proud this past week 🙂 Sending you a virtual bunch of billy buttons – and wishing you productive days and restful nights for the looming deadlines x
it was a pleasure to write your story, so pleased that it's been read and adored by your loved ones x
I've always loved greenery best. For my wedding I had only green and it was so beautiful. Texture, pattern, design has always been more important to me than colour.
That said, for the home, I love a sprig of scented bloom. Nothing fancy, just a couple of cut lavender, a freesia or two, a gardenia or a rose. It perfumes the room and makes me think of wide open spaces. x
What fun questions!
I love to find little tidbits of local greenery and have them on our table. It brings a bit of the outdoors in. Love the picture there of those cosmos (?)
I think I would be a farmer, if I could!
I once spent some time working with a florist when I was at uni – she gave me the opportunity to learn from her for a couple of afternoons. I was young, and silly and doubted myself and my ability and I ended up not following it up. It's something I've always regretted (and I don't really believe too much in regrets – I believe in learning from mistakes, but not really regrets). I do hate that I let her and myself down by not continuing with it – it was a great way to spend some time. Maybe one day I'll get back into it? Who knows! 🙂