From the Archives - 7 December 2012 - Floral Feast

This post is part of a brand new blog series called 'From the Archives'. It will be previously posted blog posts that I feel are still relevant for some reason or another. 

It will always be a post from the same calendar month as we are in or it could be some of my favourite flowers from the same season - that still lifts my spirit. 

Flowers are so ephemeral - but their beauty caught on camera never fades.........!!

Inspired by the season and the fact that I wanted to use some red berries I came up with this very easy and very quick arrangement. 

My local florist, Achillea, always has inspiring displays outside as well as inside their shop and this time was no exception. I picked some Ilex with red berries and some berried ivy. I also said that they didn't need to wrap it up, but as I turned my back for thirty seconds she had it all wrapped up in brown paper and matched the berries with red raffia!

The Ilex verticillata that I chose is a holly that is also called Black alder or Winterberry. At this time of year there are some other twigs with fruit or berries that you can use, like crab apples or rose hips. 

The berried ivy is just normal ivy, but it's only mature ivy that has berries. I have plenty of ivy in my garden but it is clipped every year so it never reaches a mature state and therefore no berries. I love the colour and texture of the berries combined with the glossy pointed leaves.

Just like with all cut flowers you need to condition both the Ilex and the ivy. Remove any branches and leaves that will sit below the waterline and cut the stems at an angle. You will need a pair of secateurs to cut any woody stems and you should also split the stem at the bottom to increase the surface area, to help the plant absorb water. 

I have used a large clear glass vintage apothecary bottle, a small glass container, a red and white enamelled candle holder, red raffia, some small mostly red vintage Christmas baubles and a torn strip of black & white fabric with a pattern of snow crystals. 

I put the Ilex in the big bottle and tied the piece of fabric around the neck.

I arranged the ivy in the little bottle and twisted the raffia around the top.

The vintage enamelled candle holder is made by the Swedish company Kockums. I put a partly burnt candle in the holder, I didn't want it to be too tall, and arranged the little vintage baubles around it.

I am hoping to be able to inspire you with more seasonal and very easy floral arrangements every Friday for the next few months.  

[Photography and Styling by Ingrid Henningsson for ...Of Spring and Summer...]

Tiny Blooms - # 3 - Paperwhites

I'm back with another 'Tiny Blooms' - this series of blog posts are about small arrangements. Small - might be the size of the container or it could be the size of the flowers or the amount of stems in each container. It will also be that the arrangement is minimal both in presentation and that it's quick and easy to do. Apart from that there are no other strict rules - I will allow myself a lot of creative freedom!

This arrangement is the first in the month of December and it's all about inspiration for making a 'Black and White Christmas' - well mostly white and mixing contemporary elements with some vintage. 

I have used Paperwhites - a little white highly scented flower that are often forced to flower for Christmas. The Latin name is Narcissus papyraceus - it's from the same genus as Daffodils.

You can plant the bulbs in pots with soil or they can also be planted on top of a layer of little pebbles in a deep glass container. They make a lovely display for Christmas. 

Here I have used them as cut flowers to make a tiny arrangement in a small black vase. 

As usual I conditioned the flowers and just re-cut the stems when making the final arrangement. You can either fill the vase with lots of them - or like here just a few leaning to one side of the vase - a little bit more of a contemporary look. 

Why not put a few short pine tree branches directly on the table and scatter some mini Christmas tree baubles in different shades of white and black among the branches.

I have put the rest of the mini baubles in an old apothecary bowl - as a very simple table decoration. 

A few tea-lights in clear glass holders as candles, a selection of black and white vases and some other containers and two little angels in the back keeping an eye on the whole arrangement! 

Quick and easy 'Tiny Blooms'!

Have a Lovely Floral Day!

I'll see you later in the week!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid 

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