DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 14 - Orange Tulips and Ranunculus

This week 'DIY Flower Tips and Inspiration' - is mostly just orange. Tulips are appearing more and more on the flower stalls and Ranunculus have just popped up their pretty heads.

I found some gorgeous orange Tulips - the petals have streaks of darker colours that gives a variegated marbled effect - and makes them look just super pretty!

Some of the bright orange Ranunculus are in tight buds others have opened up showing their layers and layers of thin petals.

The vase is a vintage jar from Sweden and the sugar bowl is from the 1930's Art Deco period and from my grandmother back in Sweden. The chevron black and white fabric becomes an interesting contrast in colour and form.

The two flowers contrast each other in texture but match almost perfectly in colour. For somebody like me who loves colour - this combination just makes me swoon!! 

Enjoy your flower arranging!

Titti and I will be back on Friday with another FLOWERS with a new and different theme.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 13 - Red Winter Branches

This week 'Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration' - is pretty much all red - I have more of the same branches from before but I'm also featuring some different ones.

It's a combination of Crab Apples, Rose Hips, Ilex branches and Cornus alba and they all feature red in some form or another - apples, hips, berries or branches.

You can read about the Crab Apples and the Rose Hips in a previous blog post.

With all of these branches you'll need a strong pair of scissors or a pair of secateurs to cut the stems. Before you put them in water - make a vertical cut up the stem to help the plant absorb more water.

The Ilex verticillata is a deciduous holly that loose it's leaves in late autumn to expose clusters of bright red berries on bare stems that lasts throughout the winter. 

Like a lot of different flowers don't expose the berries to ethylene gas or it will cause the berries to drop - so don't put the arrangement next to the fruit bowl.

Ilex will last in a vase for between 7-14 days - so they are great value for money. They also come with berries in deep gold and yellow gold - if you are not keen on the red.

The Cornus alba or Dogwood as they are commonly called - there are many different types but this one with it's red winter stems is quite dramatic. It has long almost perfectly straight leafless stems. It can last for up to three weeks in a vase - so also god value for money. These straight branches also come in green and yellow. 

All these branches will happily mix with other flowers and they last for several weeks - so perfect to buy before Christmas and they will last well into the new year.

Enjoy your flower arranging!

Titti and I will be back on Friday with another FLOWERS with a new and different theme.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 12 - Dahlias, Crab Apples and Rose Hips

This time 'Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration' is all about Dahlias, Crab apples and Rose hips. 

But this time it's more about colour and how to use the flowers, fruits and rose hips. 

When I came across this mixture of flowers, fruit and hips at my local Saturday farmers' market - I knew it was a winning combination. 

The red and orange crab apples matches the red and orange Dahlias; and the little rose hips adds a different texture in a similar colour.

I have happily mixed the Dahlias with both the crab apples and the rose hips into a big riot of orange and red. Using a large plain clear glass container works well - as it will not take any attention away from the flowers.

You can use the crab apples by mixing them in with the flowers in the container, scatter them on the table or they also add colour by just simply putting them in a bowl. 

I have left some of the crab apples lower down on the branches so that you can see them through the clear glass - a fun and little different detail. Just keep them out out of the water.

The little sweet rose hips lasts quite well out of water - so you can add them to a wreath or a garland as well as combining them in a container with other flowers like I have done here.

This is an arrangement with a lot of red and orange colours as well as lots of different textures and movement perfect for greeting your guests in the hall or on a side table in a living room. 

Enjoy the autumn colours for the short time that they are here!

Enjoy your flower arranging!

I'll 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:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 11 - Chrysanthemums and Snowberries

This time 'Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration' is all about Chrysanthemums and Snowberries.

Here are a few facts and information about the flowers: 

- The Chrysanthemum is originally from the Arctic, parts of Russia, China and Japan.

- The name Chrysanthemum comes from the Greek chrysos that means gold and anthemon that means flower.

- Chrysanthemums come in many different forms and shapes; pompon, quill, spider and spoon are just a few of the interesting forms of the flower.

- Snowberries comes originally from North and Central America but now grows wild in many places.

- Snowberries are a member of the honeysuckle family.

- Snowberries are an important food source in the winter for many birds. 

Brilliantly white fluffy Chrysanthemums and round white Snowberries are very effective and mixes well together at this time of year. 

I wanted to take a break from all the strong autumn colours I have featured lately. I love strong colours but I also love white. So here is a quick and easy all white arrangement.

I have used a large white vintage apothecary container for the big arrangement and a small white contemporary vase for my secondary complementary arrangement. Adding a few white honeycomb pompoms along the way.

Here I'm showing the arrangement with an all white background - white marble table, white French linen sheet   and white painted wood panelling. The arrangement works just as well as a contrast to something much more colourful.

Why not try it in a few different locations around your home - maybe you'll find some interesting colour combinations! 

Enjoy your flower arranging!

Next Friday it's time for another FLOWERS from Titti and I. We will inspire on how to give your guests a warm and flowery welcome!  

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 10 - Dahlias

This time 'Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration' is all about Dahlias.

Here is a little bit of facts and information about the flower: 

- Dahlias are named in honour of the Swedish Dr. Anders Dahl (1751-1789), who was a botanist and pupil of Carl Linnaeus.

- Dahlias are originally from Central America; Colombia and Mexico

- The Aztecs cultivated Dahlias for food and for decorative purposes.

- It's the national flower of Mexico.

I have created a very bright arrangement of two different Dahlias - in a large stainless steel flower bucket - then added a handful of similar coloured items - even the books are matching!

- Dahlia is an old garden flower that was out of fashion, as a cut flower, for a long time but recently have become very popular again.

- Dahlias are available from mid summer well into autumn.

- Dahlias come in an endless array of sizes, shapes and astonishingly vivid colours.

- When buying Dahlias look for crisp foliage and make sure the outer petals are firm not shrivelled. The centre of the flower should be very tight.

- Like always remove all foliage below the water line in the vase.

- Cut the stems at an angle.

- Stand in a cool position away from direct sunlight and radiators.

- Change the water frequently and re-cut the stems and the flowers will last longer.

- In general it's not a long lasting flower - 5-7 days is all you will get out of this flower - so look after it well. 

- At this time of year they mix well with berries and autumn leaves.

-Enjoy this gorgeous flower while you can!

Enjoy your flower arranging!

I will be back on Friday with another 'Bunch for the Weekend' from 'Of Spring and Summer'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 9 - Zinnia

This time 'Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration' is all about Zinnia.

• Zinnias are native to Mexico and some other South American countries.
• They are in the Asteraceae family and resembles Asters, daisies and sunflowers.
• The Zinnia is named after the German professor in botany Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727-1759).

• They come in a vast variety of colours including hot pink, white, mustard yellow, tangerine orange, red, purple and lilac.
• There are also some varieties that has unusual muted palettes and interesting variegated colour combinations
• They are loved by butterflies and hummingbirds.

• A lot of gardeners find them a bit tricky to grow due to their tendency to develop mould. 
• They also hate having their roots disturbed and its important not to sow the seeds too early - as they like it warm.
• Zinnias are a great late summer to mid-autumn flower.

• Zinnias look fabulous in a vase just on their own. Especially the bright ones that needs nothing else.
• Here I'm featuring two different coloured Zinnias in some of the more muted colours.
• I have still used the two colours separately - but using the same vase to give some interesting colour combinations.   

The vase I've used is a vintage pewter vase - neutral in colour but still making a statement with its tall narrow shape and nice texture.

The lovely flowers are British grown by Cel Robertson on her flower farm in Norfolk called Forever Green Flower Company.

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: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

Do-It-Yourself Flower Tips and Inspiration - # 8 - Sweet William Flowers

This time 'Do-It-Yourself  Flower Tips and Inspiration' is all about Sweet William flowers.

• Sweet William is the common name - the botanical name of the flowers in Latin/Greek is Dianthus barbatus.
• It's in the Caryophyllacae family commonly called the pink or carnation family .
• The first part of the name comes from the Greek di or dios meaning god or divine - referring to the Greek gods. The second part of the name anthos means flower.

• Barbatus means bearded or hairy as a small part of the flower has tiny hairs.
• Sweet William is an old-fashioned cottage garden favourite and have been grown in Britain for hundreds of years.
• The flowers has a lovely clove-like scent.

• The Duchess of Cambridge had white Sweet William in her wedding bouquet when she got married to Prince William in 2011. Kate chose the flower as a tribute to her bridegroom.
• They come in many colours - white, pink, red, purple as well as many variegated colours.
• The flowers attracts bees and butterflies. 
• The flowers are edible and have a peppery, clove like flavour and can be used in salads. 
• Cut stems between the nodes for maximum water uptake.
• They are long-lasting - about 5-10 days - and are great value for money. 

The flowers are British and grown by the brilliant Cel Robertson at Forever Green Flower Company.

I made a little bouquet entirely made up of different light pink Sweet Williams. I made a fabric ribbon from a piece of fabric in similar pink tones and tied that around the stems and I used a vintage pink jug as my vase. 

My bright pink creation for the month of June - even though it's cold and rainy here in London.

Enjoy your flower arranging!

Have a Great Floral Day!

I will see you later in the week with more Do-It-Yourself flowers from 'Of Spring and Summer'.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson - Of Spring and Summer]
[Flowers from Forever Green Flower Company.]

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson