A Bunch for the Weekend - # 44 - Hot Pink Spray Carnations

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring some hot pink carnations. The Latin or botanical name is Dianthus.

I have made three small bouquets - all similar but a little bit different.

You'll need:

- 20-25 stems of spray Carnations in any colour you like

- three neutral vases or containers - here I have used different size vintage metal containers - but of the same colour 

- three rubber bands

- ribbons in a colour that matches the container. I'm using two different grosgrain stitched dark grey ribbons designed by Jane Means.

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- a pair of florists scissors

- a florist bucket filled with fresh water

Condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. This is to reduce any growth of bacteria from deteriorating leaves. Also remove any broken or bruised leaves.

Cut the stems at an angle - this is to increase water absorption.  

Put in a clean container with fresh water and leave in a cool, dark place over night or at least for a few hours, to let the flowers absorb the maximum of water, before making the final arrangement.

You might have to re-cut the stems while making the final arrangement to suit the size of the vase or container and to get the right proportions.

While making the bouquet hold the flower stems in one hand and add with the other. Keep adding the flowers one by one and keep turning the bunch as you are adding and make an even dome shaped bouquet. 

When you finished and are happy with your creation wind a rubber band around the stems - this is to hold the flowers in place while you are tying the ribbon.

Next tie the ribbon leaving the ends long. Hold the bouquet next to the container and estimate where to make the final cut. Have the flowers and the bow sit just above the rim of the container.

Remove the rubber band by cutting it and put the flowers in the vase. Lastly cut the ends of the ribbon to whatever length you think looks good. 

The container I have used have quite open or wide necks - but my intention was not to fill them all with flowers. I did fill the smallest one but with the other two I just let the arrangement lean to one side of the vase showing off the ribbon and the stems - a little bit more of a contemporary way of styling flowers.

I have only used one type of flower but in slightly different pinks - some pretty containers and an added ribbon  - voilà you have some attractive, quick and easy bouquets for the weekend.

Have a Happy Floral Saturday and Enjoy Your Weekend!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer]

[Ribbon designed by Jane Means.]

Take 3 Flowers! - # 2 - Pink Tulips and Ranunculus with Eucalyptus Foliage

This is the second blog post in the series 'Take 3 Flowers' - where I will show you how to make easy but beautiful and stylish flower arrangements - just using three different flowers. Often one of the three will be some kind of foliage.

Using just three flowers will sometimes be a challenge - but it will also keep the cost down. Cut flowers can be expensive but foliage on the other hand tends to be cheep. You can use lots of it to help fill out the arrangement and to provide support and structure for the other flowers. 

I loved the contrast between the strong pink of the tulips and the Ranunculus; and the silver grey of the Eucalyptus leaves.

You'll need: 

- 9 stems of dark pink tulips

- 7 stems of dark pink Ranunculus

- 12 short stems of Eucalyptus leaves or similar silver grey foliage

- a fairly large vase or container - in this case I have used a florist's zinc bucket

Tulips are starting to appear at flowers stalls on London street corners - and they come in all kinds of yummy and delicious colours.

And also finding Ranunculus in similar colour to the tulips - I didn't have too hesitate.

Pink and grey is a lovely combination - so the grey-green Eucalyptus leaves were perfect.

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- florists snippers or scissors

- a florist bucket

As always - condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. Cut the stems at an angle - to increase water absorption. Put in a clean container with tepid water and leave in a cool, dark place over night or at least a few hours before making the final arrangement.

Sorry, about always repeating this last bit - but it's probably the most important thing you can do to make your flowers last longer! So I'm afraid you have to put up with me always going on about it.

Start by cutting down the the Eucalyptus into smaller stems. They should not be too long - you want the flowers to sit above the foliage.  You'll need between 10 and 15 little stems - depending on the size of container. First line them around the edges and then fill in the middle with the rest of the stems.

Put the vase at the edge of the work surface and measure the height of the flowers before making the final cut. The Ranunculus should sit just above the foliage - but you can cut the tulips a bit shorter as they will continue to grow in the vase.  

A bowl of pink raffia! I love raffia and use it all the time to tie flowers and I tie it around vases as containers as decoration; I also use it instead of string or ribbons when I wrap presents.

In among the flowers and the pink raffia I have placed two little mini zinc watering cans. 

The evenings are getting darker and longer and its the time of year when its nice to light some candles. Have used some vintage mini tart tins with fluted edges to hold some tea lights. 

So here you have some flowers in strong colours and some little candles to brighten up the dark autumn evenings.

Have a Lovely Floral Monday!

See you later in the week!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

Florets - Floral Quote # 53 - by Mandy Kirkby

"The daffodil has grown in Britain in the wild since the sixteenth century, once colouring fields and meadows in great drifts and gradually creeping into cottage gardens. To the Victorians, the daffodil was a flower of the countryside, simple and natural, and had a great deal of folklore associated with it, as well as a host of jolly country names such as 'Butter and Eggs', a reference to the flower's two-toned bright yellow colouring. Children welcomed the daffodil and the new season it proclaimed by singing:

            

'Daffadowndilly has come to town

In a yellow petticoat and a red gown'." 

~ Mandy Kirkby ~

[Mandy Kirkby: British, editor, flower enthusiast and author of Love Letters of the Great War and The Language of Flowers.]

[Quote: From The Language of Flowers.]

[Flowers: Bright yellow daffodils/ Narcissus.]

[Vase/container: Vintage white and blue enamelled jug.]

[Other props: Grey shawl, painted wooden board and grey and white ribbon from Jane Means ribbon collection.]

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

Have a wonderful Floral Sunday!

See you soon!

xoxo Ingrid