How I Became a Floral Enthusiast

When I was growing up, I was always collecting groups of things: stickers, stamps, unsharpened pencils with cool designs, and as always - random items from outside like rocks, dried flowers, acorns for good luck. I was quiet but observant of my surroundings. I remember being fascinated by the way trees and shrubs grew, especially ones that arched or grew in a crooked, grotesque way.



I was a bookworm so of course I checked out books about flowers, plants, and even went through a phase of reading landscape books and sketching my own landscape designs. We had a children's anthology series called Childcraft - The How and Why Series. One of the books in the series, The Green Kingdom, was a favorite of mine. The book had this cool game called the tree-path game where you had to follow a path and identify the plant pictured in order to select the correct path to get to the end of the game.



What really influenced my interest in flowers and plants was my mom who loved gardening. I always tagged along with her to my two favorite places as a kid: the local hardware store and the garden shop. I can't remember a time where we didn't have an abundant amount of flowers and plants in our yard especially during the summertime. For "Way Back Wednesday", I decided to post some older photos of my mom when she lived in London during the 1970's. The first photo was taken in London, the second photo was taken during a trip to France with my aunty (my dad's sister), and the last photo is a vintage selfie that my dad took when he and my mom were dating.



Some people think their parents have no influence in how they turn out whatsoever. I beg to differ. I really don't think I would be as passionate for flowers and plants if it had not been for my mom's love for gardening (thanks Mom!).

Sugar and spice and everything nice

An old family friend had a beautiful baby girl recently. I asked this person's sister what colors she liked and I was told yellow, green, and brown. Hmm. I could not find black dahlias or chocolate cosmos, but I did find a maroon colored peony and worked around that flower. For yellows I used protea and bupleurum. For greens I used veronica, thistle, and eucalyptus. I added red colored laceflower to compliment the peony and added brunia for contrast. I also cut some clematis buds and salvia leaves from my mom's garden for texture as well as light green hellebores foliage. I used a copper colored vessel and a few feathers (not pictured)to finish the arrangement. Starting with this arrangement I included instructions and tips on how to care for the arrangement plus the flowers and foliage sourced (since people keep asking!).

More prom pictures

Below are Sydney and her date wearing the corsage and boutonniere that I made for their high school prom. Sydney and her friend Carly (not shown in this picture but her corsage is in a previous post) were my guinea pigs. I made a size adjustable wire bracelet versus using elastic.

Flowers for the kids' teachers and kangaroo paw

I love putting together and giving flowers to people. It makes them smile which makes me happy! Today was my daughter's birthday so along with cupcakes for her class, I made a couple of small arrangements for her teacher as well as for my son's teacher. Peony was the centerpiece flower used with gerbera daisies, dianthus, daisies, and small chrysanthemums. I also used lily buds. I like them even though the buds aren't even open yet, love the shape and love using them as greenery.





I also found out the name of that cool red flower I found at the grocery store the other day: kangaroo paw!


Photo from Better Homes and Gardens

Carnations

Carnations have a bad reputation for being a cheap filler flower from the grocery store. I think they're really pretty especially the old world variety. Here I have them arranged with white peonies, roses, Gerbera daisies, snapdragons, black pussy willow, this cool red flower I found the other day, and petunias and joey from my garden.

Lighting

Lighting makes such a big difference with the presentation of arrangements. Below is the same floral arrangement in different lighting:





My friend suggested the Foldio by Photojojo. The Foldio is a pop-up studio (even includes lighting!). I may need to purchase one for myself!



Buy the Foldio at the Photojojo Store!

Tussie-mussies

Last weekend was crazy busy with prom and Mother's Day. I put together these smaller arrangements as gifts to family and thought it would be great to offer as an option when ordering. Tussie-mussies are $15. I can work with you as far as color, etc. Please message me if interested!