A Bunch for the Weekend - # 110 - Soft Pink Peonies and Baby's Breath

It might be cold and hailing - but the peonies have arrived!! Gorgeous with their large multi layered frilly flower heads.  

Here is a little "statement" that I add - to briefly explain my thinking behind these particular posts:

"It's always a pleasure and lots of fun to buy a bunch of flowers for the weekend and in this series of blog posts, called 'A Bunch for the Weekend', I will show you how you can make quick and easy flower arrangements for your home. 

Buy the flowers where it's convenient, easy and most affordable for you whether that is from a flower stall, farmers' market, the supermarket or a florist. 

Always try to buy seasonal flowers - they will last longer and they will be a lot cheaper.

Make sure you condition the flowers as soon as you get home. Remove any foliage that will end up below the waterline in the vase. Trim the ends of the stems at an angle and put in fresh water as soon as possible."

To encourage peonies to open up, hold the flowers upside down and spray with water to remove the sticky sap on the buds.

Baby's Breath or as they are also called - Gypsophila is a great 'filler' with it's frothy white little flowers.

Peonies are glamorous and come in shades of white, pink, peach and crimson. They will take a few days to open up - but its worth waiting for!

Peonies are lovely on their own in a simple vase or container. The flowers are so large and impressive they often don't need anything else - but can be mixed with for example like here the light and delicate Gypsophila. 

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be here on Sunday morning. It's the last of April so I'll be back with another 'Flowers of the Month'. 

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

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Flowers: Pale pink peonies and Baby's Breath from my favourite local street flower stall in North West London.]

[Vase/Container: A large clear glass pickling jar - bought at one of the many antique markets in London.]

[Other props: A vintage white painted wooden chair from Sweden, a painted plant stand and some linen fabric - all from stylist's own prop collection.]

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

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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 boards showing how to arrange flowers. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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Creative with Flowers - # 13 - Pink and White Flowers

This series of blog posts - called 'Creative with Flowers' - are about using flowers in 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 usual my arrangements will be quick and easy - and there will always be lots and lots of colour!

Seven different flowers in seven different clear glass containers. The pink flowers are peonies, sweet peas, spray roses, Gladiolus italicus and Astrantia. The white flowers are stock and Gypsophila.

All the containers are vintage laboratory glass containers in different shapes and sizes.  

I have grouped them together on a tabletop and added a few black props - a Jane Packer apron, two small bowls and two little boxes with postcards from the Design Museum in London. 

Flower arranging does not have to be done in one vase or you don't even have to mix any flowers. Choose a few different flowers within the same colour range, pick out containers that are similar in some way and put one type of flower in each container. 

Group them together on a table or sideboard and you end up with an interesting mix of colours, shapes, heights and textures, it will give visual variation and at the same time have a great impact.  

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I'm now taking a break from blogging to enjoy some time with family and friends. I will see you again in August.

Have a wonderful summer - enjoy the warmer weather and go out and smell the flowers! 

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.

For more floral inspiration you can follow me on:

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Florets - Floral Quote by Erin Benzakein

" Big pieces, such as urns and large vases, go quite fast. I love dramatic statement pieces, and I think my excitement speeds things up," she says. 
"Centrepieces or low arrangements often take a bit of time, since securing all the elements in a 'pin frog' can be a bit tricky." In line with her sensual spirit, Erin also has an unusual predilection: "I love weaving edibles - cherry tomatoes, strawberries, baby apples, raspberries, bush beans, herbs, carrots - into bouquets, as well as airy elements so that the slightest breeze can catch a component." To get started, this ambitious achiever's advice is simple: "Just skip your latte once a week and buy a posy of sweet peas instead!"

~ Erin Benzakein ~ 

[Erin Benzakein: American, florist, farmer florist, photographer, author, teacher, entrepreneur, award winner of the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Award for Floral and Event Design and founder of Floret Flower Farm in Washington State, USA.]

[Quote from: Floral Contemporary by Olivier Dupon, 2014.]

[Flowers: Mixed bouquet with pink roses, Gypsophila and Gladiolus.]

[Vase: Vintage apothecary clear glass jar.]

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

You can also find me on:

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Floral Media # 14 My Feature in Gatherings Magazine - black + white florals

This is my feature in the latest issue of Gatherings Magazine. The winter and Christmas issue is always called The White Issue and the theme this year is Celebrate Scandinavia.

I'm the floral stylist on the magazine and a contributing editor.

I'm also very happy to tell you that the above image was the cover of the magazine.

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black + white florals

Eucalyptus berries have a wonderful texture and colour and works brilliantly in a white setting. I have continued with more texture and used an interesting ceramic vase designed by the Swedish artist Bertil Vallien in the 1960's. 

The votive candle holder is from the Finnish company Iittala. It'is called Kastehelmi, the Finnish for 'dewdrops' and refers to the bubbles in the glass. 

The cushion in the background is made from vintage French linen and has a beautifully monogrammed 'E' on the front panel. A seasonal little parcel and bauble complete the picture.

  

The Viburnum tinus has small round almost black berries and the Symporcarpus or Snowberries has bigger plump round white berries or fruits. With the stems cut very short i have used little white vases with black drawings called Caramba, designed by the Swedish glass artist Ulrica Hydman Vallien for the glass factory Kosta Boda in the 1980's.

Snowberries are very versatile and can be used with their stems cut short and used in small vases or left long and used in large arrangements. I have also seen them used stripped of all their leaves giving them a dramatic look with pure white berries on dark stems. Combine them as here with a votive candle and a little wrapped present.
Ribbon is from Jane Means collection.

"Five Gold Rings" just like the words in the Christmas song 12 Days of Christmas - the five gold rings in this case are two kinds of Swedish brass curtain rings; I have added some extra seasonal sparkle with gold glitter twine and a vintage Christmas bauble.

Candles and candle holders are very much part of Swedish interiors adding a sense of warmth during the long, dark, cold winters. Here are four black wrought iron candle holders with tall, slim white candles. For the holiday season I have mixed them with vases of seasonal berries, vintage Christmas tree baubles and a little Christmas present wrapped with white tissue paper and bakers's twine.

Scandinavians often combine the modern with antiques in unusual and clever ways and they take pride in their heritage and traditions. Here are some antique cups with gold decorations and some vintage Christmas tree baubles on a pile of antique psalm books. Both the cups and the psalm books are heirlooms passed down through several generations.

  
A white on white theme - white Gypsophila or Baby's Breath in a white vase with ridges, five silver coloured baubles on a white fabric and a white painted wooden background - simple and effective.

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Gatherings Magazine is available in both printed and digital versions from here.

[Styling and photography: © Ingrid Henningsson for Gatherings Magazine.]

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Have a Lovely Floral Day!

Back soon!

xoxo Ingrid