Tuesday Bouquet: "Crescent"

 

xThis week's Floral Arrangment class project contained:

One Protea 'Pink Ice'

Four Veronica stems 

Five Delphinium stems (mine were white)

White Genista 

Pink Carnations

Myrtle foliage stems

Usig the Protea as the center and focal point of the arrangement, we were to construct an asymmetrial crescent shape with the myrtle foliage and Delphinium.

One Veronica flower at each corner and the Genista, Carnations and Myrtle scraps to fill and cover the foam.

The Veronica got lost in there:

We were instructed to gently bend and trim the Myrtle stems to create the crescent's curve.  I didn't quite get there, but most students didn't, either.  If you happened to get some curved Myrtle stems you were in luck.  

Despite the curve-achieving issues, it was a fun arrangement to put together.  This was intended to be an arrangement based on line--the curved crescent line.  "Line based" arrangements, we were told, are tricky.  The human eye will follow lines, and you want it to follow the crescent.  

What we were lacking was time--there was a lot of talk before we started about the florist industry and the famous LA flower market, so after that we were all rushing to finish before the room needed to be vacated for the next event.  It felt like aerobic flower arranging.  But, fun.  This one seemed easier because after six or seven of these sessions I have a somewhat better sense of what to do.  Practice sure helps. 

The no-foam arrangement from two weeks ago was finally ready to be composted.  Here's the photo of the florist-tape support grid.  I can re-use it and re-do the arrangement with garden flowers.  The 1/4" wide florist tape is plenty sturdy.  Note the tape goes all the way around the container, across the top, down one side then across the bottom and up the other side until it comes back to stick to itself.  Firmly.  Four of those:

Back home in the garden, plenty to do but feeling "stuck" again.  We got over an inch from the three storms that came through over the past several days.  We are at 6.78" total for the season, half of average.  The lucky thing is the rain seemed to have arrived exactly when the plants were ready to grow.   Everything is growing but my energy level.  

 

It's waiting for me:  

Big flush of Callistemon 'Slim' flowers any day now:

Roses waking up!  'Pink Gruss an Aachen':
  'Comtesse de Provence':

Hellebores--'Fire and Ice':

Another 'Blanche Ito' Leucospermum opens
I hope my gardening mojo comes back soon.   Hope yours is thriving. 

Comments

  1. I LOVE the Callistemon flowers, and the Roses, of course! I'm glad your rain came just when you needed it. And your arrangement is one of the most regal and lovely that I've seen in a while. Very nice!

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    1. Sorry for delay in reply. I was unable to "reply" on my own blog for a day! No clue as to why.

      Happy to have roses again. They were not dormant long, but I missed them anyway. Happy Spring, Beth!

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  2. I'm staunchly no foam. I use the tape grid, chicken wire (coated) pin frogs or a fist full of excelsior depending on the vase. I started a crazy amount of seeds for cut flowers this spring-I hope I can figure out spots in the garden for all of them.

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    1. Sorry for delay in reply. I was unable to "reply" on my own blog for a day! No clue as to why.

      I'm not pro-foam myself but--it was used in the class. Seeds! I've got volunteer Zinnias coming up already and was ambitious enough to plant some mesculn a few days ago--surely time before the heat arrives--Have fun and success with a cutting garden for spring. (And Happy Spring. Go Dodgers!)

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  3. I like this weeks arrangement, and aerobic flower arranging made me laugh. I'd sign up for that. We all need a recharge every now and again. Brownies & an afternoon of reading (or two) is my go to. Blanche Ito sure is a stunner!

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    1. Sorry for delay in reply. I was unable to "reply" on my own blog for a day. No clue why.

      A recharge always helps. I seem to need one quite often. Brownies, yummy!

      https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/emergency_brownies_43976

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  4. Oh my. I have to say the flowers for this week's arrangement are a big no for me. Those do not belong together, what a mashup of ingredients. That said, I think you did a fabulous job of building the arc. My gardening mojo is stalled until there is a pause in the rain and things warm a bit.

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    1. Mashup? Could be, no doubt. Is it the Protea that's the mash? Though pinks and blues are harmonious, and Genista, Myrtle, Protea, Carnation, Delphinium all Mediterranean climate plants, just not the same Mediterranean for the Protea.

      Pause in the rain, sigh. How about a pause for you and some more for me?

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  5. Oh, and thank you for the shot of the tape grid!

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    1. I remembered! :^)

      Sorry for delay in reply--blogger would not let me "reply" on my own blog for a day. Then it started working again. ?!??!!

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  6. I can see the crescent in your design! I like the arrangement best viewed from above - that's true of many of my own arrangements too. I love Helleborus 'Fire & Ice' and I'm impressed, as always, by your beautiful roses.

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    1. I think I'll try to duplicate this one just for learning some craftsmanship. The practice of a class every week has made this arranging thing less mysterious.

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  7. I'm unable to click "reply" on my own blog! WTF?!?

    Thanks to all for commenting. Will attempt to reply later.

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  8. Any bouquet featuring a protea is a WINNER!

    "Aerobic flower arranging:" Gardeners get exercise in all kinds of ways!

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    1. It sure felt like aerobic exercise racing to get done. Pretty funny. Plant shopping can also be like that!

      The Protea unquestionably makes a great focal point. I wondered if they were imports from SA or grown in San Diego County, forgot to ask. Both regions have florist suppliers growing Proteas.

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  9. I love the asymmetric arc design and proteas are always drool worthy. Glad you feel a little more confident in your abilities; its the 'practice make perfect thing'. How long do these classes last? At some point it would be fun to see arrangements made with harvested material from your own garden.
    Hellebores 'Fire and Ice' is gorgeous. I love everything in the 'Winter Jewel' series.
    Chavli

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    1. Hands on practice with a skilled instructor--it really helped! I think the class was 8 weeks, something like that. I may take in in the future--it has been held 3-4 times a year for a long time. I will try some garden-based arrangements, for sure.

      Hellebores--love them!

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  10. an In A Vase on Monday from your garden, would be interesting when the course is done. You have plenty to choose from - both focal point (roses?) and fillers.

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    1. I will attempt some, once I get the garden ready for spring--I'm so behind!

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