A Bunch for the Weekend - # 92 - Purple Limonium and Grey-Green Eucalyptus Foliage

In this week's 'A Bunch for the Weekend' I'm featuring two plants that florists mostly use as fillers in their flower arrangements. 

We are talking about Eucalyptus and Purple Limonium - two very easy and reasonably priced plants.

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

Buy the flowers where it's convenient and easy 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.

Purple Limonium is also called Statice or Sea lavender. They can last for up to two weeks - not bad going. This is a small version of the larger Statice that you often see dried and that comes in many different colours. 

Eucalyptus foliage also lasts for ages. So a win, win situation when using both plants!

Both are also strong hardy plants and straightforward to condition before making the arrangement.

Florists use filler and foliage plants in addition to the bigger, more important and often more expensive flowers that make up the flower arrangement.  

Here I wanted to show that "secondary" flowers or foliage can make beautiful flower arrangements just by themself.

I made up one large mixed arrangement and two small side arrangement. All three containers that I have used are vintage apothecary jars - clear glass and white china. 

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back on Sunday with another Florets - a floral quote by someone passionate about flowers. 

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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

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A Bunch for the Weekend - # 70 - Three Posies of Tulips

This week I'm featuring three small posies of tulips in two different colours. A bright pink and a dark purple - both fabulous colours. 

I also want to tell you about the three little glasses that I'm using as vases.

I was on my way to the dentist - not my favourite kind of appointment - but sometimes it is just something you have to do. Close by are some fabulous shops - so I always give myself plenty of time to do some window-shopping and wonder in and out of the shops. One of these shops on this particular street is Anthropologie - who sells a combination of clothes and things for the home. I saw these coloured glasses that I liked but I had to put them back on the shelf as I was running out of time and I didn't want to be late for my appointment.  

Well, after my hour and a half appointment in the dentist's chair I felt very sorry for myself. So what did I do? Well of course, I went back to Anthropologie and bought the glasses that I wanted in the first place! 

They came in a few different colours but I got a clear glass one, a green and a light purple. The pattern on the side is whats called 'Fleur de Lys' French for lily flowers.  

They are perfect as vases for little posies - the sides are tall enough to hold the flowers in place and filled with flowers they look great.

Whenever I buy flowers, style and photograph for the blog I always try to make at least two or three different arrangements - sometimes it works but I have to admit that sometimes it doesn't for all kinds of reasons - time, weather, condition of the flowers etc.

Well with this lot I have managed to do two very different arrangements and you will see the other one on Sunday in my FLOWERS blog post. So remember to visit me on Sunday - for Valentine's Day! 

Enjoy Your Flower Arranging and 

Have a Fabulous Floral Friday and a Great Weekend!

Me and Titti will see you again on Sunday with another FLOWERS to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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

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FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - All on a Plate

The theme for FLOWERS this week is 'All on a Plate' and I have created four colour coordinated plates using the flowers and berries as a starting point.

On four different plates I have assembled a napkin, cutlery, beads and buttons, flowers and berries, tags or labels decorated with washi tape and some different twines.

Next to each place setting is a little vase with flowers - from the top - blue grey Eryngium or Sea holly - next down are some gorgeous pink spray Dianthus or mini carnations. 

With the purple plate I also used mini carnations but in a different colour and the last plate has red berries from a shrub in my garden called Nandina domestica.

On the side of each plate under the napkin I have tucked the same flower as in the vase.

The napkin is tied with either baker's or garden twine in matching colour.  

All the little tags are decorated with colour matching washi tape. Remember the Japanese paper tape that was so popular a couple of years ago. I still have a shoebox full of them and I often use them when wrapping presents.

Just a few strips of the tape makes all the difference - turning something plain and ordinary into a little bit more special.

Sticking to one colour gives the whole table cohesion and forms a united whole - but you could also try using contrasting colours.

Hopefully you will have found some ideas and inspiration for next time you are having a dinner party.

Titti Malmberg - my Swedish based collaborator - who I work alongside on FLOWERS - has also created a new post on her blog HWIT BLOGG - so please follow the link and go over and see how she has interpreted the theme. 

Have a Very Happy Floral Wednesday!

I'll see you later in the week with more flowers from 
'Of Spring and Summer'. 

~ xoxo ~ 

Ingrid

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

Tiny Blooms - # 13 - Double Daffodil - Narcissus 'Double Ducat'

This series of blog posts - called 'Tiny Blooms - are about small flower 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'm allowing myself a lot of creative freedom!

This beautiful daffodil is called Narcissus 'Double Ducat' - it has massive double bright yellow flower heads and some of the petals has the smallest hint of green.

I used six stems and made a tight bouquet by holding the stems right under the flower head and creating a round domed shape with all the flowers facing outwards all the way around.

I tied some raffia around the stems and left the ends trailing down as a little textured feature.

As a colour contrast to the bright yellow flowers I choose a purple glass vase and left the stems on the daffodils long enough to just casually lean against the side of the vase.  I also added a piece of fabric with a purple zigzag pattern, two vintage purple buttons and a brightly coloured bead necklace.

A simple, quick and easy DIY spring flower arrangement.

Have a Lovely Floral Monday!

I'll see you later in the week with more flowers from 
'Of Spring and Summer'. 

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid 

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

[Flowers from Forever Green Flower Company.]

Tiny Blooms - # 7 - Red, Pink and Purple Cyclamen

This series of blog posts - called 'Tiny Blooms - 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'm allowing myself a lot of creative freedom!

As my tiny bloom flower I have used yet again some small cyclamen as cut flowers - but this time they are red, pink and purple.

Back in December I bought a whole tray of little pots with lots of cyclamens in bud. I kept them just outside my kitchen door where I could see them through the window while doing the dishes. Over time they happily opened up their beautiful little flowers.

This time I wanted a more romantic feel to my arrangement - but I also wanted a dramatic colour contrast. The flowers have such a strong colours - I felt they needed a little bit of a neutral background. So I picked some clear glass containers and a off-white background to suite the occasion. 

So for this new little project I cut about 45 stems and put them in a collection of nine small clear glass containers. Some are vintage perfume bottles, others apothecary jars and others are little treasures that I have no idea what they were used for.

A very quick and easy arrangement where the flowers last for about a week and if you plant the cyclamen plant in your garden - it will come back year after year.

It would look good on a small table or in a bedroom on a bedside table. The little collection of vases would also look lovely on a small tray on a dining table. 

Here are two previous blog posts featuring Cyclamens. In the first I have used big white flowers in a pot and the other has little white flowers in a small black vase.

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.] 

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 17 - Echinops

I'm back after the summer with my weekly post 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - and this week I'm featuring Echinops - a fabulous and fun flower.

Echinops is a perennial found in hot, gravelly slopes and dry grassland. Its native to Central and Southern Europe, Asia, India and some parts of Africa.

The plant has round, stiff flowers in a metallic purple blue colour. They are very long-lasting both in the boarder and in the vase.

The common name for them is 'Globe thistle' and the name Echinops is from the Greek 'echinos' which means hedgehog.

  

They are also good for cutting and drying and it's usually available during late summer and early autumn.

For this very quick and easy arrangement you'll need:

- 7 Echinops flower heads

- a round-shaped vase with a narrow neck

To condition the flowers remove all leaves - you want a very clean and lean look. Cut the stems at an angle to maximize the water uptake. Put in a clean container - in a cool place over night or at least a few hours - before making the final arrangement.

For the final arrangement - cut the stems at slightly different heights and arrange them so that you can appreciate each individual flower. 

For a vase I have used a contemporary vase originally sold by Habitat - but this one I found in a local charity store.

I thought it was a perfect match both in shape and colour. Round just like the globular flowers and in a similar purple blue colour.

The vase also has a lace pattern under the glaze giving it an interesting texture. 

I have used the Echinops on their own - but they are a great addition to mixed arrangements as well - with their interesting shape and texture.

Have a Wonderful Floral Friday!

I hope you have had or are still having a great summer. Here in Northern Europe we have had glorious weather - hot and sunny days and long, warm and balmy evenings. Just the perfect weather for spending days on the beach, in the garden or the park.

xoxo Ingrid

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 12 - Limonium

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring Limonium or Statice as it's also called.

Limonium has a bit of a frumpy, old-ladyish image - but it's now just like carnations becoming popular again. 

It might be hard to get hold of as a lot of florists don't stock it. I got mine from my local farmer's market but I have also seen it sold by flower sellers on street corners and in supermarkets.  

It's a flower that needs to be purchased when the flowers are open as they will not develop further once cut.

As usual condition the flowers by removing any of the lower leaves that would end up below the waterline in the vase. Cut the stems at an angle and put immediately in a clean vase with fresh water over night or at least a few hours before making the final arrangement.

Limonium is an easy plant - has very few leaves to remove, lasts for ages and comes in a huge range of colours. Last but not least it dries really well and will keep it's bright colour even when dried.    

I went to a brand new gardening fair last weekend on Hampstead Heath in North London - called Grow London. It's a fair of about 80 stalls with almost exclusively modern, contemporary stuff and plants for sale.

At the fair I bought this rather funky vase from Judy Green's Garden Store. It has a round clear glass inner vase and around the outside is a crinkly nest of stainless steel wires. 

I was intrigued by how it would look with flowers in it and I think it worked very well with the Limonium - a flower that also have a crinkly look to them. 
  

Have a Fabulous Floral Day!

See you on Sunday for another floral quote by another flower lover.

xoxo Ingrid

Flowers from the Flower Market - # 4 - Delphiniums

Delphiniums are magnificent at this time of year and I just could not leave the market without bringing some home. It's a flower that come in many different pink and blue colours as well as white and peach. 

 The one little difficulty with Delphiniums are that they are quite tall - so you need a tall vase. Tall vases become top heavy so they are not always easy to deal with but apart from that it's a great flower that you don't have to do a lot to and lasts well. 

It's a flower that starts flowering from the bottom of the spike while the top still has tight buds. You will need to remove the lower spent flowers as the buds open up. 

Like always condition the flowers by removing any lower leaves that will end up below the waterline in the vase. Cut the stems at an angle and put straight in a clean container with water - and leave over night in a cool place. 

Delphiniums are a flower that remind me of an old-fashioned country garden and I thought these blue and white floral vases had the same feel about them. 

Just to be on the safe side I put all the old vintage vases on little saucers - also blue and white floral china. Don't ever trust an old china vase - as they might leak and ruin your tabletop. 

You don't need to do very much to delphiniums - they are perfect on their own and their loose country garden style is easy and charming.

Keep the tall spires all the same height to give a neat finish to your arrangement.  

I was able to make one lower arrangement with a light pink Delphinium - that I only had one stem of. I cut it quite short - put it in a low vase and used some stems with unopened buds in the back. Simple and easy!  

Have a Lovely Floral Day!

See you later in the week!

xoxo Ingrid

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

Florets - Floral Quote - # 59 - by Malin Hidesäter

" A Simple Bouquet. It is not always size that counts; small can be just as pretty. And for a small bouquet, there is no need to buy roses with long stems or flowers with the biggest blooms. Long-stemmed roses are often more expensive and large heads can overpower a bouquet. Instead, mix many different varieties or choose flowers whose colours harmonise. A gift of flowers is always appropriate and says so much more than words. Even children love flowers, but how often do we give them a bouquet?" 

~ Malin Hidesäter ~

[Malin Hidesäter: Swedish florist, flower expert, TV presenter and author of Flower Power.]

[Quote from: Flower Power Malin Hidesäter and Anna Skoog.]

[Flowers: Purple and white pansies.]

[Vase: Victorian scent bottle.]

[Other props: Purple twine and white fabric.]

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

Have a Wonderful Floral Sunday!

See you again next week.

xoxo Ingrid

Florets - Floral Quote - # 57 - by Rachel Ashwell

"Options for flower containers are practically limitless, as long as they hold water. I like to assemble glass jars, cement urns, watering cans, and vintage pitchers, just for a start. I often arrange vases or bowls into interesting collections and group them by color, shape, or materials. Usually, the more stunning the container, the fewer flowers that are needed, which is especially helpful when working on a budget."

~ Rachel Ashwell ~

[Rachel Ashwell: British, based in America, interior designer, stylist, author of seven books and founder of Shabby Chic.]

[Quote from: Shabby Chic: Sumptuous Settings and Other Lovely Things by Rachel Ashwell.]

[Flowers: Blue Freesia and dried Lavender.]

[Vases: Vintage white jugs.]

[Other props: Washi tape, old postcard, vintage wooden stool, colouring pencils, painted wooden board and ribbon by Jane Means.]

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

Have a Great Floral Sunday!

See you next week!

xoxo Ingrid

Florets - Floral Quote # 47 by Paula Pryke

"Tulip time. Tulips are among the most versatile of all spring bulbs. They are easy to grow and thrive in any position where you can give them reasonable drainage. If you cannot find room for them in your borders grow them in pots; then you can move them around in a kind of grand cross between flower arranging and gardening. The range of tulips available is enormous. You can plant tulips any time between October and December, and if you choose a good range of varieties you should be able to enjoy tulips in your garden from February to May."

~ Paula Pryke ~

[Paula Pryke: British, London based florist, founder of Paula Pryke Flower Shop and School; and author of fifteen books.]

[Quote: from Flowers Every Day by Paula Pryke.]

[Flowers: Dark purple tulips.]

[Vintage: Antique white lace.]

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

Have a Wonderful Floral Sunday!

Back here soon!

xoxo Ingrid