Flowers of the Month - May 2017

Today is the last day of May and it's time for another round-up of what I have been up to this last month. 

In 'Flowers of the Month' I feature all the different flowers and floral arrangements that I styled, photographed and posted exclusively on my blog 'Of Spring and Summer'.

I post about four times a week so by the end of the month I have quite a few images to look back on.

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.

At the end of the post is a little message to all of you! 

3 May - Creative with Flowers - Pink Ranunculus

5 May - A Bunch for the Weekend - Bluebells

7 May - Florets -Floral Quote - Sweet Peas and Clematis

10 May - Creative with Flowers - A Flower in a Bottle

12 May - A Bunch for the Weekend - A Few Late Tulips 

14 May - Florets - Floral Quote - Forget-Me-Nots and Grape Hyacinths

17 May - Creative with Flowers - Pale Purple Sweet Peas

19 May - A Bunch for the Weekend - Pink Peonies

21 May - Florets - Floral Quote - White Rose and Solomon's Seal

24 May - Creative with Flowers - Purple Stock Flowers

26 May - A Bunch for the Weekend - Pale Pink Anemones

28 May - Florets - Floral Quote - Pink Roses

29 May - Tiny Blooms - Pale Pink Ranunculus

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer'.

I also wanted to tell you that I'm now taking a few months off from posting on my blog. It is a little bit longer than usual but a lot of big changes are taking place right now that takes up a lot of my time. All good - just time consuming! 

Have a wonderful summer holiday and I will see you back here in the autumn. 

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.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I have around 12 400 followers and I have just over 200 boards all relating to flowers, floral styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

Creative with Flowers - # 39 - Lilac Double Tulips

Tulips are still available to buy at flower stalls and the florist and what is really exciting is that now they are also flowering in the garden.

This week on 'Creative with Flowers' I'm featuring some very pretty lilac double tulips. 

This is a little "statement" that I add to the post - briefly explaining my thinking behind the posts:

"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!"

I bought two bunches of this beautiful lilac tulip from the flower stall. It's the kind of double tulip that is stunning both when the flowers are tightly closed as well as when they open up and become almost double the size.

This is all happening while the flower stems are growing, so you are presented with a different view of floral beauty every day.

To make the flowers last as long as possible - put them in a cool place during the night. 

The fabric used as a tablecloth picks up the colour in the flowers. It has an interesting circular pattern that is repeated in the shell necklace. The straw hat makes you wish for those long hot summer days that hopefully will soon be here...... 

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back on Friday with another 'A Bunch for the Weekend'. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you here then - a new post - new flowers - bright and early first thing in the morning.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Flowers: A big bunch of lilac double tulips. All flowers from my favourite local flower stall in North West London.]

[Vase/Container: White vase with an interesting textured surface. Found at one of my local charity stores.]

[Other props: Fabric, hat and necklace are  all from stylists own prop collection.]

[Styling, photography and text © 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.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards all relating to flowers, flower styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

Creative with Flowers - # 37 - Hot Pink Tulips

This week on 'Creative with Flowers' - I'm featuring a rather large bunch of tulips - all the same colour and just on their own - so no added foliage or mixed with other flowers.

This is a little "statement" that I add to the post - briefly explaining my thinking behind the posts:

"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!"

Tulips can be a bit tricky or some people would say "difficult".

They keep on growing quite a lot even after they are cut. What quite often happen is that you carefully make an arrangement - you put the flowers in the vase and two days later they are all over the place.

A lot of people don't mind at all - they actually enjoy seeing the flowers "dance" in the vase growing - reaching and turning towards the light. 

Other people enjoy having a more compact arrangement. 

So how do you do that? Well, this is one way you can do to prevent the tulips going all wild.

The trick is the size or the height of the vase or the container. The flowers need to be supported and the stems to be cut a little bit shorter than you would do with other cut flowers.

Measure the stems against the side of the vase and make the cut that little bit shorter than normal making sure that the stems are supported against the edge of the vase. 

You don't want the arrangement to look all stiff and standing straight up either. But you also don't want all the flowers leaning in all directions and a big gaping "hole" in the middle of the vase.

If you make it as a handtied bunch vary the length of the stems a little bit - just to give the arrangement a bit of variety and movement.

What we are looking for is an arrangement with evenly spaced flowers - not stiff - but also not all over the place.

Good luck!

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - as it's the last day of March - I will be back on Friday with another 'Flowers of the Month. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you here then - I'll be back with a new post - bright and early first thing in the morning.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Flowers: Large bunch of hot pink tulips. All flowers from my favourite local flower stall in North West London.]

[Vase/Container: Vintage pale green glass container.]

[Other props: Vintage French linen fabrics from stylist own prop collection.]

*****

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.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards all relating to flowers, flower styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

Creative with Flowers - # 36 - Colourful Spring Tulips

This week on 'Creative with Flowers' - I'm featuring a mixed lot of very colourful spring tulips.

What is it many of us crave at this time of year? Colour of course! 

This is a little "statement" that I add to the post - briefly explaining my thinking behind the posts:

"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!"

It's early spring - but many places around the world are still covered with snow. We all long for some warmth and above all colour.

Well, flowers are a perfect distraction and they come in all sorts of different colours. Just pick what you love.

Before I carry on showing more images of the beautiful tulips and the props that I've used. I just wanted to show you a 'behind the scene' shot!

It's a stage that is easily forgotten about - probably because it's often not a very pretty stage - well just a bit messy......

Before I started I knew I wanted to use some colourful little glasses that I have. I also knew I had to cut the tulip stems very short. What struck me when looking at the pile of leaves and stems on the counter was that I discarded more of the flowers than what was left........well I did keep the pretty part of the flower at least!   

The props this time are - a bright pink watering can, a vintage very worn little lantern, a piece of yellow fabric with a circular pattern and a hessian sack from my grandfather's country store back in Sweden. It has the words "Triangelns Kaffe" printed on the side - the name of an old classic Swedish coffee brand.  

I bought three bunches of already mixed tulips - it had a mix of colours as well as a few different varieties of mostly double tulips. So overall a great mix already done for me.

There are six glasses in different colours - but I have only put flowers in three of them. I was able to put ten flowers, stems cut very short so that the flowerheads sit just above the edge of the glass. So maximum colour from both flowers and glasses - perfect for this time of year!

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back on Friday with another 'A Bunch for the Weekend' all about how to make a lovely bunch of flowers to enjoy over the weekend. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you back here then.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Styling, photography and text © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Flowers: Mixed colourful spring tulips. They are all from my local flower stall in North London.]
[Vase/Container: Colourful small glasses in a carrier - bought from a local charity store.]
[Other props: From stylist own prop collection.]

*****

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.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards all relating to flowers, flower styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

Flowers of the Month - February 2017

It's the last day of February and it's time for another round-up of what I have been up to this last month. 

In 'Flowers of the Month' I feature all the different flowers and floral arrangements that I styled, photographed and posted exclusively on my blog 'Of Spring and Summer'.

It has been a very busy month so there are a lot of images to look back on.

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.

1 February - Creative with Flowers - In the Pink Zone!

3 February - A Bunch for the Weekend - Dark and Moody Tulips

5 February - Florets - Floral Quote by Hans Blomquist

8 February - Creative with Flowers - Romantic Tulips

10 February - A Bunch for the Weekend - From the Archives

12 February - Florets - Floral Quote by Paula Pryke

13 February - Tiny Blooms - Snowdrops

14 February - Happy Valentine's Day!

15 February - Creative with Flowers - Pink Ranunculus

17 February - A Bunch for the Weekend - Pink Tulips in Zinc Vase

19 February - Florets - Floral Quote by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo

20 February - Tiny Blooms - Pink Limonium in Pink Mini Bud Vase

22 February - Creative with Flowers - Double Multi-Coloured Tulips

24 February - A Bunch for the Weekend - Rustic Country

26 February - Florets - Floral Quote by Vic Brotherson

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer - I will be back here tomorrow morning - Wednesday - with some more flower arranging tips. Look out for the next instalment of 'Arrange Your Flowers! I'll be featuring my top three cutting tools for flower arranging. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you back here then.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Styling, photography and text © 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.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I have 12 000 followers and I have just over 200 boards all relating to flowers, floral styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

Florets - Floral Quote - # 141 - by Vic Brotherson

'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 of them have written one or several books about flowers, 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.

I love books and in my ever growing library I look for quotes that I hope will be both helpful and useful for everybody who is arranging and styling flowers.

" A collection of small glass bottles (condiments or perfume bottles are perfect) is an indispensable quick -fix for a table decoration or an awkward narrow shelf and the best part is they are economical to fill. Top them up with water and arrange on the table to ensure you get different heights and then fill them with a mix of roses.

When filling the bottles make sure all the stems touch the base of the vases, otherwise they can become top heavy (one of my pet hates). Also, try to ensure the stems run cleanly and simply beneath the flowerheads, as this is much more pleasing to the eye."

~ Vic Brotherson ~  

[Vic Brotherson: Top London florist, founder of the flower shop Scarlet and Violet in North West London and author of two books Vintage Flowers (2011) and Vintage Wedding Flowers (2014).]

[Quote: From Vic's first book Vintage Flowers.]

[Flowers: I have used a mix of two different pink tulips - the stems are cut very short. All flowers from my local flower stall in North London.]

[Vases/Containers: A collection of vintage blue ink bottles bought from various London antique markets over the years.]

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

*****

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back tomorrow morning with another Floral Media - a brand new video showing how to make a simple floral arrangement. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you back here then.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

*****

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.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards all relating to flowers, flower styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and shows how to arrange them. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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