April 29, 2012

Isn't It Romantic

Hello, all! It's the end of April and as my garden burgeons with every passing day, I get more excited for late spring and early summer.

My weddings of the past few weeks were an abundance of blossom and freshness - exactly what spring  gardens are all about. The one pictured here was the image of a lush English garden in bloom; fragrant peonies, heavenly David Austin Patience and Juliet roses, and budding Quince.  The arrangements I designed in silver pedestals and silver urns invoked the wonderful, romantic bounty that is an English garden in full bloom. I also added English Ivy to the bridal bouquet for an added garden-y touch.

The flower varieties and the colors suited the old world grandeur of the Ballroom at the Hotel DuPont perfectly as well as the peaches and cream silk dupioni of the bridesmaids' dresses - one half expected Rogers and Hart to appear at the bandstand and lead the orchestra with a few bars of "Isn't It Romantic" - the colors, the candlelight, the setting just made it exceptional.

As I wrote last year, peach is definitely back in style and it's so wonderful to work in this color again. Peach comes in so many shades, ranging from yellowy to pinkish and one's ability to pair it with with just about everything - complementary colors (blues, purples) or similar colors (pinks, oranges) - means that the options are limitless. 

Flowers pictured include: Duchess de Nemours peonies, versilia roses, David Austin Patience and Juliet roses, medeo sweetheart roses, white ranunculus, lime green hydrangea, white hydrangea, peach stock, white hypericum, bells of Ireland, quince, Israeli Ruscus, English ivy, Israeli ruscus, and pittosporum.



Bridal bouquet



Mother's nosegay

Bridemaids' Bouquets - three styles for six maids - round, teardrop, and cascade




Boutonnieres of  peony buds and white hypericum


Placecard table

















Cake top pre-cake

Pew flowers and bows





April 15, 2012

Sprightly Spring

Hello! Happy Spring! The trees are leafing out all over and the daffodils are just about finished. It's a marvelous time of the year for all flowers - both outside and the ones I gather to arrange. The markets just seem to be teeming with variety right now.

A week ago today I provided the flowers for a client's Easter lunch. I selected vibrant corals, lime greens, yellows, creams, and a touch of purple all arranged in mossed containers and lined down her long dining room table amid silver candelabras and birds. For the children's table, I added three mossed bunnies with bows for a bit of whimsy - something, I think, appreciated by both young and old!

Flowers pictured include: white hydrangea, green hydrangea, larkspur, cymbidium orchids, bells of Ireland, ranunculus, concador lilies, amazon roses, versilia roses, viburnum, trick dianthus, boronia, quince, Israeli ruscus, and bear grass.