Amaryllis - Houseplant of the Month

Every month The Flower Council of Holland choose a Houseplant of the Month and for December 2017 it's the Amaryllis.

All these colourful and seasonal images are from The Joy of Plants.

Here is also a link to The Flower Council of Holland with lots of information about how to use and how to take care of Amaryllis.

Have a happy floral day!

Florets - Floral Quote - # 161 - by Willow Crossley

'Florets - Floral Quote' is a series of blog posts where I feature quotes by authors - mostly well known - but you will also find some obscure ones.

All the authors have written one or several books about flowers, green plants, gardening, interior styling or interior design. Many are experts in their field but what is the most important is that they are all passionate about flowers and plants.

I love books and in my ever growing library I look for quotes that I hope will be both inspiring and be useful while arranging flowers or green plants in your home.

"You often see amaryllis potted in containers or baskets or extravagant cut flowers in vases, but I prefer to grow them in old pickle jars, as shown here. I think that gives them a botanical chic, rather like turning them into a museum specimen for you to watch growing taller and taller until they flower.

Amaryllis always seem to fall over under their own weight, but these jars act as a support from every angle, which makes them practical as well as beautiful. Curiously amaryllis don't really need soil - just a tiny trickle of water every so often will do, to keep the roots wet."

~ Willow Crossley ~  

[Willow Crossley: British, Oxfordshire based florist, designer, journalist, founder of online business Willow Rose Boutique and author of two books. Inspire (2014) and Flourish (2016).]

[Quote from: Inspire by Willow Crossley. Published by Cico Books.]

[Flowers: Maidenhair fern.]

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

Creative with Flowers - # 28 - White Amaryllis

This week on 'Creative with Flowers' - I'm featuring some gorgeous white Amaryllis. It's such a perfect flower for this time of year. Easy to look after - you just need to know a few little tricks and all will be well!

This series of blog posts - called 'Creative with Flowers' - are about using flowers in new and creative ways. It could be about how the flowers are combined - maybe in a little bit of an unusual way. It might be the choice of vase - maybe not a vase at all but a container that could be anything from jugs, bottles, jars, tins or teapots - vintage or new it doesn't matter. 

As always my arrangements will be quick and easy - and there will always be lots and lots of colour!

Amaryllis must be the perfect flower - easy to condition, there are no leaves to remove, the flowers don't open up all at the same time, they last for a long time and you just need a few stems as each stem has several flowers - so it makes a big impact.

This particular white Amaryllis has some green colouration inside the flowers fading to white. So I have added a few muted green vintage bottles and bowls. 

At this time of year I crave candles and I will always light some in the evenings.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when you use Amaryllis as a cut flower. 

If you are making a tall arrangement put a thin bamboo stick up the stem to prevent the stems from breaking. The flower heads become very heavy and if there is no support the stems can break.

If you are making a short arrangement where the stems are supported by the side of the vase there is no need to do this.

Another advise you see is to fill the hollow stems with water. Simply turn the flower upside down, fill with water, plug the opening with some cotton wool , keep your thumb over the opening and quickly place in the vase. 

You also need to put a rubber band around the bottom of the stems to prevent the stems curling up. Floral tape also works well. Remember that the tape or the rubber band might be visible through a clear glass vase so you might want to use some other type of vase or container. 

I always cut the bottom of the stems straight across with a sharp knife on a cutting board - not at an angle. As the bottom of the flower stems tend to curl up - it will look much neater with a straight cut and easier to keep the rubber band or tape in place.  

Another thing I also do is that I remove the anthers filled with pollen as soon as a bud has opened up. This is to prevent the pollen falling on tablecloths and clothing. 

Trim off any faded flowers and enjoy the remaining flower heads.

In this arrangement I have only used three stems but each one has four flowers so altogether I have twelve  flower heads - I call that good value for money!

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous floral Wednesday!

Thanks you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer'. I will be back later in the week with more floral delights. I'll see you then.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Styling, photography and text © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

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Florets - Floral Quote - # 133 - by Malin Hidesäter

"The Amaryllis is a bulbous plant that has become increasingly popular as a cut flower. New varieties and colours are being introduced each year and there seems to be no end to the inventiveness of the breeders: there are single and double amaryllis, large or small bells, striped and streaked ones and they come in red, purple, orange, pink and white. The amaryllis is such a grand flower in its own right it scarcely needs other flowers. Even so, a little foliage, like olive branches or eucalyptus, can look beautiful. When you buy amaryllis there is often a stick inside the stalk and a rubber band at the end. Leave these in place: the stick supports the stalk and the rubber band prevents it curling up. The season for amaryllis is September until the end of May but it is most common around Christmas. It lasts for up to two weeks."

~ Malin Hidesäter ~ 

[Malin Hidesäter: Swedish florist, flower expert, stylist, TV presenter and author of two books - Flower Power and Krukväxter.]

[Quote from: Flower Power (2007) by Malin Hidesäter and Anna Skoog.]

[Flowers: White Amaryllis.]

[Container: Tall clear glass cylinder.]

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous and floral Sunday!

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back tomorrow Monday with another 'Floral Media' this time it's a short video on how to make your own Christmas wreath.  

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

P. S. Did you know that you can subscribe to receive a notification via email whenever I have a new blog post. Just fill in your email address at the top of my blog on the right.

For more floral inspiration you can follow me on:

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The Monthly List - December 2015

FLOWER

A couple of months ago I started a new monthly series of blog posts called 'The Monthly List'. It's Johanna Bradford of Tant Johanna over in Sweden who started what she calls 'Månadens Lista'. Her and the others taking part create inspirational monthly lists and I'll be doing my version over here in London. Here is my list for December and just like last months the focus is on flowers .......!

Amaryllis is my choice of flower for December - especially the white ones - it's a perfect colour for both Christmas and New Year. The proper botanical name is Hippeastrum and the traditional way is to grow it from bulbs yourself or buy pots with the bulbs already planted and grown on. 

Now you can also buy them as cut flowers and they make stunning and dramatic arrangements with their huge trumpet-shaped blooms.

VASE

Small jars in all kinds of of off-white colours are great to use as vases. The vintage jars are often called cream ware - but I also have some new ones that had mustard or honey in them. Some of them have writing on the side - making them just that little bit more interesting and fun.

Watch out for any cracks where water can seep out and destroy your table top! 

This months book is The Wreath Recipe Book - very much on trend and timely for the holiday season.

The book covers not only wreaths but also swags, garlands, place settings, napkin rings and other seasonal decorations to make all year around.

The book is written by Alethea Harampolis and JIll Rizzo founders of Studio Choo - a San Francisco based floral design studio. 

INSTAGRAMMER

Gudy Herder's blog is called Eclectic Trends and she describe herself as a trend expert, speaker, consultant and mood-board curator. Based in Barcelona she also teaches workshops and online courses. Link to her Instagram here.

CUP

The cup for this month is a Swedish coffee cup called Blå Blom. It's a real old-fashioned kind of cup that reminds me of my grandmother. The cup was produced in Sweden for 130 years. Some of these old granny cups are now popular again, being used and collected.

QUOTE

To stay curious throughout life means you'll find out about new things, you learn new skills and you don't ever have to be bored.

This lovely floral art print is created by Cat Coquillette, who is a designer and illustrator living in Kansas City, USA.

FOOD

Sweet juicy oranges, tart red cranberries and roasted sweet chestnuts - a few foods with the taste of Christmas. Little sprigs of dark green holly is just a finishing touch!

Have a Lovely Floral Day!

I'll be back on Friday with another FLOWERS from Titti Malmberg and me - some more floral delights from 

Of Spring and Summer.

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Image no 4: © Gudy Herder.]
[Image no 6: © Cat Coquillette.] 

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DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration - #15 - White Amaryllis

This week my 'DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration' - is about how to make the flowers on your Amaryllis last a bit longer.

The Amaryllis usually have several flowers on each stem - that opens up one after the other - not all at the same time. As the flowers continue to open - you need to remove the old spent flowers. You can use a knife or a pair of scissors. Do it carefully - the little short individual flower stems sit very close together!

Then comes the moment when there is only one or two flowers left on each stem and the whole arrangement starts to look a bit sparse! 

What you can do is to simply cut the remaining flowers off the stem and put them in either their own individual vase, jar or container or put a few in each. 

They will last for a few more days and looks lovely grouped together on a tray or in a row on a table. The flowers are so big, that even as single flowers in their own little container on a small side-table, they will have enough impact to make an impression. 

Enjoy your flower arranging!

I will be back on Friday with another 'A Bunch for the Weekend'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

You can also find me on:

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Flowers of the Month - November 2015

1 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo

It's the last day of November and I'm back with 'Flowers of the Month' - where I'm featuring all the different flowers and floral arrangements I have posted during the month of November. It's been quite a few blog posts this month with lots of amazing and colourful autumn flowers available. I've been able to create, style and photograph a great deal so there are quite a few blog posts to cover.

The title of the post under the image - is also a link to the post - if you would like to see it again or you missed it.

November 2 - Floral Media - Flower Agenda - Orchid

4 November - The Monthly List - November 2015

6 November - A Bunch for the Weekend - Hydrangea, Tulips and Eucalyptus 

8 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Paula Pryke

9 November - Tiny Blooms - Parrot Tulips

11 November - DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration - Red Winter Branches

13 November - FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Faded Charm

15 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Hans Blomquist

16 November - Flowers and Ribbons - Napkins

18 November - Tiny Blooms - Pink Chrysanthemums

20 November - A Bunch for the Weekend - Ornamental Cabbage and Tulips

22 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring

23 November - Floral Media - Flower Agenda - Amaryllis

25 November - DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration - Orange Tulips and Ranunculus

27 November - FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Moody Hues

29 November - Florets - Floral Quote by Jane Packer

I hope you have enjoyed all the flower arrangements from the last month - as much as I have enjoyed created them. 

Have a Great Floral Day!

I will be back again at the end of December with another 'Flowers of the Month'. Before that I'm back later in the week with more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer. 

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Photos nr 2 and nr 14  provided by The Flower Council of Holland.]

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Florets - Floral Quote - # 91 - by Jane Packer

" When it comes to choosing flowers for the living room, first consider your space. It's essential to select blooms that coordinate with the other colours in the room. Although I usually like to ring the changes, I have to admit that at home I turn to the same old favourites time and time again - dramatic, luxurious red blooms such as roses or amaryllis, largely due to the fact that they are perfectly offset by the moody grey shade of my sitting room walls."

~ Jane Packer ~ 

[Jane Packer (1959-2011): British florist and founder of Jane PackerFlowers and flower school, author of thirteen books.]

[Quote from: At Home With Flowers (2011) by Jane Packer.]

[Flowers: White Amaryllis.]

[Container: Vintage clear glass cylindrical container - that holds the tall Amaryllis stems upright.]

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

Have a wonderful floral Sunday!

I will be back tomorrow Monday with the last post of the month - 'Flowers of the Month' - I'll be showing all the flower arrangements I have featured on the blog during November .

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

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Floral Media - Flower Agenda - Week 48 - 52 - Amaryllis

This is the last installment for 2015 - from The Flower Council of Holland's campaign about cut flowers - it's called Flower Agenda and during the weeks 48-52 - its all about Amaryllis - used as a cut flower.

Here is a little bit of information and facts about Amaryllis:

Anyone looking to discover the amaryllis's birthplace needs to travel to South, Central America and the Caribbean. This radiant flower is a descendant of the Narcissus family, and grows from a bulb. Did you know that the name 'Amaryllis' comes from the Greek word 'amarussein', which means 'sparkling' or 'radiant'?

The amaryllis's petals are very unusual; they look like they're made from fabulous velvet. In terms of colour, they come in white, red, yellow, pink, salmon, purple, orange and bi-coloured. 

 

There are usually four to six imposing flowers on the stem. The amaryllis does not have any foliage. That's why they sometimes call her the 'Naked Lady' in the United States.

To enjoy amaryllis for a long time follow these tips.
•    Trim the stems diagonally.
•    Select a sturdy glass vase.
•    Make sure that the vase is nice and clean, fill it with water and use cut flower food for bulb flowers.
•    Place the vase in a reasonably cool place, not in a draught or next to the fruit bowl.

The amaryllis symbolises pride and enchanting beauty. It expresses a feeling of friendship and affection. This is the perfect flower if you want to capture hearts.

The amaryllis combines well, and effortlessly fits into various styles. If you like simplicity, then combine amaryllis with Viburnum. If you prefer something livelier, but still restrained, make a fantastic white bouquet with amaryllis, lilac and magnolia. A robust bouquet also works well. Take a sturdy vase and place holly and amaryllis bulbs in it to create a bouquet that no-one can ignore!

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a great floral day!

I will be back later in the week with more floral delights from 'Of Spring and Summer'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Images provided by The Flower Council of Holland.]

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