Bringing the Outside In

Fall is in full swing and the changing landscape is spectacular – new shades, textures, and shapes are revealed during this time of transition, made all the more beautiful in this wash of glimmering, almost golden light.  The traditional time of food harvest is also a time of floral harvest. For many many years I have harvested the parks, roads, and woods for materials: osage oranges, thistle, teasel, grasses, pods, sweet gum balls, as well as cut various items from my garden to dry.  Nature offers boundless inspiration, constantly.

My wedding of a few weeks ago did just this – brought the outside in – as they selected a blaze of fall colors for their centerpieces.  We created two looks in glass for the tables - high arrangements in pilsners and low arrangements in cubes. The colors are what made it spectacular - bright oranges and velvety reds cushioned in antique hydrangea and deep greens. The texture, shape, and color of the kangaroo paw made this look pop and the embroidered gold organza overlays were the perfect complement. 

The cake was pretty marvelous – I haven’t decorated a cake with so many flowers in such a long time and I always love how this looks. I may be biased, but I think nothing tops fresh flowers on a cake, and the cascading design is so lovely.

Flowers pictured include:  kangaroo paw, antique hydrangea, blackout and brunello lilies, freedon roses, orange unique roses, italian ruscus, snapdragon, hypericum berries, vendela roses, salal, and green hydrangea.