Earlier this week I went to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The show takes place every year in May here in London. I've been going every year for over twenty years now.
For the third year in a row Marks and Spencer had put on a stunning display of flowers in The Great Pavilion. All the flowers they featured this year were grown in the UK and the display was called 'Blooms of the British Isles'.
I was so inspired that I a few days later went to my local Marks and Spencer and bought four bunches of stock flowers to use for this weekends little project.
- 24 stems of stock in two different bright pink
- a large clear glass round container - here I have used a big vintage pickling jar
- two small vases and a small bowl
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.
[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer]
You can also find me on:
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson
I wanted to show different ways to display stock flowers in different size vases and containers.
Most of the stems I kept tall and displayed in an old very large, clear glass pickling jar.
A few stems I cut down quite short and put in a small vintage fish-paste glass jar.
Three of the light pink stems I displayed in an Alvar Alto mini vase that my daughter found for me at a London antique market. In this vase the stems stays quite straight echoing the shape of the vase.
I mentioned earlier this week how fragile stock flowers are and how easy it is to break off individual flowers when you handle them. Here is a link to that post.
Don't throw them away - put them in a small bowl of water and enjoy the flowers in a different way.
I have also just scattered a few on the table - just for fun.
I hope you can find some inspiration from all the different ways I have displayed these beautiful scented stock flowers.
Combining flowers with different containers becomes a way of working and being creative with flowers.
And more then anything else have fun while you are doing it!
Have a Great Floral Saturday and a Happy Weekend!
I will see you next week with more DIY flowers from
'Of Spring and Summer'.
~ xoxo ~
Ingrid
[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer]
You can also find me on:
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson
